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Bella-Demonia 


a dramatic Storw 


BY 


SELINA DOLARO 

\ X 



IVe are but pieces in the game He plays 
upon this checker-hoard of nights and days, 

Hither and thither moves, and checks and slays, 

And one by one back in the closet lays. 

— Omar-i-Khayyam 


f > 

** c 

CHICAGO, NEW YORK, AND SAN FRANCISCO 

BELFORD, CLARKE & COMPANY 

LONDON 

H. J. DRANE, LOVELL'S COURT, PATERNOSTER ROW 




Copyright, 1889, by Belford, Clarke & Co. 


This story has been dramatized by the author, and the dramatization 
has been entered according to Act of Congress The rights of theatrical 
production and translation are strictly reserved 


SELINA DOLARO. 


DEDICATION 


STo 3Palmer, 

Palmer’s and Madison Square Theatres, 

New York : 

To you, to whom I owe so many a kindly word and deed, at 
times when Fate pressed hardest,— given with gentle, simple cour- 
tesy, as if the service rendering were a boon receiving, — to you, 
whose unspoken sympathy has brought me comfort in my darkest 
hours, I have naught to give in return, nor ever shall have, save 
remembrance. Will you accept it? 


SELINA DOLARO. 



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BELLA-DEMONIA 


PROLOGUE. 


CHAPTER I. 

THE HONORABLE JOHN VYVIAN FANE. 

‘ ' But indeed, Excellency, the fare is three 
roubles. '' 

‘‘Away ! and quickly.* 

“But indeed — '' 

“What ! still whining? Here ! take that!” 

The sharp shriek of a man in pain rang out 
in the wintry air, and was lost on the snow-clad 
Prospect. An isvoshtshik — a sleigh- driver — had 
been struck across the face by the passenger 
who had just descended from his droschky, at 
the top of the Newski Prospect. 

The isvoshsthik was a miserable specimen of 
the Russian nioujik or peasant class, clad in the 
ragged fur goat and pleated boots of his pro- 


8 


Bella-Demonia, 


fession, and, as he cowered against the side of 
his droschky, formed a wonderful contrast to 
the man who had struck him. The latter stood 
illumined by the oil lamp that lit the curb hard 
by (I am talking of the Petersburg of twenty 
years ago), a figure of military erectness, clad 
in a long and tightly-fitting coat of dark cloth, 
heavily trimmed with Astrachan fur ; the cap 
on his head and the gloves on his hands were 
of the same material, and his feet were encased 
in high polished leather boots whose simplicity 
bespoke their English manufacture. The face 
illuminated as the man turned, by the oil lamp, 
was finely cut and of an ivory pallor. What 
was visible of the closely-cut hair beneath the 
fur cap was of a jet-black, as was also the stiff 
military mustache which, drawn to fine points 
on either side, disclosed a thin, pale, cruel 
mouth. The man looked down at the trem- 
bling moujik, one hand upon his hip, the other 
holding a light rattan which still quivered with 
the force of the blow which had just been laid 
across the moujik’s face. 

There was nothing very noteworthy — espe- 
cially at the time of which I write — in a droschky- 
driver being struck by his client, but the still- 
ness of the air in the keen frost of the Russian 
winter seemed to accentuate the bitterness of 
the cry that rang out. At any rate, it attracted 


Bella-Demonia, 


9 


the notice of a man who, stepping from the 
shadow of a neighboring gateway, approached 
the group. 

‘‘Come, come,'" said the new arrival, in the 
tone of one accustomed to command, “men 
are not flogged in the streets of Petersburg for 
nothing. What is the meaning of this 

The man who had struck the sleigh-driver 
turned on his heel and confronted his inter- 
rogator. The manner of the latter immediately 
changed, and, straightening his figure as he 
raised his hand in military salute, he exclaimed, 
in a tone of surprise, — 

“The Gospodar Vyvian Fane! We are 
punctual 1" 

As he spoke,, the moujik, who had fastened 
his eyes on the new-comer's face, sprang upon 
the driving-seat of his droschky, exclaiming 
under his breath as he did so, — 

“Dmitri Keratieff, of the Secret Police I 
Holy St. Katerine, what an escape 1" And, 
before either of the pair could turn, he had 
started his horse and disappeared down one of' 
the by-streets leading out of the Newski Pros- 
pect. 

“Yes," said the man whom Keratieff had 
addressed as Vyvian Fane, in answer to the 
Police Agent's ejaculation, “my business is of 
a kind that demands punctuality on my part, 


lO 


Bella-Dentonia, 


promptitude on yours. No need to trouble 
about this scoundrel — ah ! he is gone ; it is 
well. He tried to claim a double fare : he 
mistook his man.'' 

And the Honorable John Vyvian Fane 
laughed — a little hard laugh that parted his thin 
lips over two rows of small cruel teeth. 

‘‘You have brought the papers queried 
KeratiefF. 

“ Here they are," replied Fane, drawing a 
letter-case from his pocket and taking thence a 
folded sheet. “This one will be more than 
sufficient. It is a letter from Alexis Dorski 
the Terrorist leader, to the Prince Ladislas 
Galitzin. You will see that it proves the in- 
timacy of the two." 

“That will indeed be sufficient," returned 
the Police Agent ; and, hastily unbuttoning the 
cloak which was wrapped about his somewhat 
stunted form, the light of a small flat lantern 
shone out, instantly lit by some chemical pro- 
cess, and illuminating the sheet which Keratieff 
perused attentively. 

“It is more than enough," observed he, as 
he extinguished the light and refolded the paper, 
which he, in turn, placed in his pocket-book. 
“ How does the Prince Ladislas come to have 
let this fall into our hands T' 

“He had intrusted it to his sister, the Prin- 


Bella-Demon ia. 


1 1 

cess Carita Galitzin, for safe custody. It is 
from her that it was — obtained.” 

The Chief of Police glanced quickly and 
keenly at the impassive face of the Englishman. 

‘‘Ah!” he ejaculated. Then, after an in- 
stant’s pause, he asked, “When do you desire 
that this arrest should take place .?” 

“At once. Within an hour, he must be 
safely lodged in the Fortress of St. Peter and 
St. Paul.” 

‘ ‘ So soon r 

“Yes. The young fool was so ill-advised 
as to attempt to make a scene at the Club to- 
night. The matter must not be taken up again 
to-morrow. He must have disappeared. You 
understand V 

‘ ‘ Perfectly. ” 

“And mark me, also,” continued Fane, 
lowering his voice, though in the moonlight it 
was plain that no one was near. “Once in 
the fortress, he must not come out. There 
must be no trial. ” 

The Police Agent smiled : 

“ Have no fear, Gospodar Fane. Prisoners 
who take the ground-floor apartments of St. 
Peter and St. Paul seldom come to trial. The 
place is damp. Life is uncertain. The Prince 
Ladislas is delicate. By the bye, you might 
like to assist when — when the tirnes comes. A 


12 


Bella-Demonia, 


prison funeral is an interesting thing — to a 
foreigner. '' 

“Are you sure you can lay your hand upon 
him at once.?*' queried Fane, not appearing to 
notice the other s words. 

“In an hour he will be safely lodged," an- 
swered KeratiefF, echoing the Englishman's 
words. 

“Where is he now.? He left the Club at 
once." 

“He is with his wife." 

“ Whatr 

“With his wife. The prince has been more 
than a year married. A mesalliance, Excel- 
lency. " 

“ I did not know of this." 

“Nor anyone else, with the exception of 
Dmitri Keratieff and the Princess Carita his 
sister. " 

“The deuce !" 

“There is yet time in half an hour, should 
you change your mind." 

“Change my mind! Never! the revenge 
will be all the finer. What a chance !" 

Vyvian Fane was about to leave his com- 
panion, when the latter stopped him, laying a 
hand upon his arm. 

‘'This is a terrible revenge, Gospodar Fane," 


Bella-Demonia, 


n 


he said. ‘'^It strikes his sister and his wife 
with him.^* e 

‘‘Well.?" 

“It will probably kill both these women." 

Vyvian Fane had bitten the end from a cigar 
and had struck a match. As he held the flame 
close to his face, his dark sinister eyes flashed 
into those of the Police Agent. 

The cruel smile disfigured his face again, as 
he threw down the match and without a word 
turned on his heel and strode off into the night. 

“ What a devil!" said Keratieff to himself, 
as he looked after the retreating figure. “ But 
all the same an invaluable member of our 
Third Section." And then, hailing a droschky 
which had been hovering about as if anticipat- 
ing a fare, he sprang into it, and disappeared 
in the direction of the police head-quarters. 

As the sound of the sleigh-bells died away 
in the distance, the moon shone down upon 
the Newski Prospect and the square of St. 
Nicholas, which were once more deserted in 
the frost-bitten air. 


u 


Bella-Demoilia, 


> 


CHAPTER II. 

HUSBAND AND WIFE. 

Of St. Petersburg, as of every other city of 
the world, the most magnificent and the most 
squalid dwelling-places abut upon the river. 
Just as the late Tuileries and the Louvre, in 
common with the obscurest tenements of the 
Quartier Latin, look uppn the Seine, — just as 
the Houses of Parliament and Somerset House, 
in common with the ’longshore hovels of the 
city, look upon the Thames, — so in Petersburg 
the Winter Palace, in common with the warrens 
of the moujik population, looks upon the Neva. 

In these warrens live for the most part the 
students of the city ; here it is that the major- 
ity of Nihilist intrigues foster and spread, and 
here it is that the domestic spy, the dvorniky or 
concierge, is most looked after and best paid 
by the Secret Police. It is here also that tene- 
ments can be found whose dvorniks are better 
paid by the tenants than by the police, and 
where individuals who desire to efface themselves 
conceal their identities behind passports 
either fictitious in themselves or issued to 


Bella-Demonia. 


worthy citizens who have died or disappeared 
long ago. 

In a blind alley leading from the inner court 
of one of the most intricate blocks of buildings 
we find with difficulty a low door, announcing 
a squalid interior, to all appearance a stable or 
warehouse. We might knock here for an hour 
without evoking any sign of human habitation, 
but draw a stick or stone lightly across the 
door and we are answered by a single word 
whispered inside. A couple of these pass- 
words are exchanged, and the door opens 
noiselessly. 

Immediately the footfall is muffled by the 
furs with which the hallw*ay is strewn. We 
pass through heavy curtains and reach the 
innermost room of this abode, which, lit en- 
tirely by skylights and softly-burning lamps, is 
a very jewel-box. The apartment into which 
we have penetrated is carpeted with Ukraine 
and Siberian skins, the walls are hung with 
silks from Ispahan and embroideries from 
Damascus. The furniture is of the carved 
ebony from the banks of the Indus, ancient 
weapons of Turkish origin are festooned upon 
the silken walls, and on the tables are scattered 
the gold and silver trinkets of Indian and Persian 
master-workmen. An inlaid lute of Venetian 
craft lies upon a chair, an Angora cat is stretched 


l6 


Bella- Demontd, 


asleep upon another, at opposite ends of the 
foom hang masterpieces of Flemish and French 
artj in a corner stands a marble statuette from 
Some Florentine atelier : in a word, all that 
luxury and taste can conceive is grouped here 
as a proper setting for the woman who lies 
upon a huge divan, nestling among the piled- 
up cushions in her garments of soft clinging 
silks, — waiting. 

The woman who waits is the Princess Nadine 
Galitzin, once the handmaiden of the Princess 
Carita, and now the wife of the young Prince 
Ladislas. 

Yes, the Prince Ladislas Galitzin had made 
what the world would have stigmatized as a 
mesalliance, but no one would doubt for a mo- 
ment, looking at the woman as she lies on her 
divan, that some strain of noble blood, a bar 
sinister if you will, made her worthy to share 
the title even of the last Prince Galitzin. 

As she lies waiting the advent of her hus- 
band, her mind wanders back over all the 
ecstasy of the past two years. She lives over 
again the happy days in the chateau by La- 
doga, where she lived more the companion 
and sister of the Princess Carita than her hand- 
maid, — the arrival from college of Prince La- 
dislas, — the gradual awaking in her soul of the 
conviction that this was the Kamar-al-Zaman of 


Belta-hemonia, 




her dreams, the King of the Time for her. 
She remembers the steps in their courtship, the 
nrst time that their ey^ met and rested in 
each other, and the death thenceforth of the 
indifference of the maiden to her mistress’s 
brother ; their sudden meeting in one of the 
corridors, when the prince had clasped her in 
his arms and kissed her for the first time and 
then fled without a word ; then the progress of 
their secret betrothal, so sedulously concealed 
from the old Prince Galitzin ; the misery with 
which she learned of his approaching depart- 
ure to take up his commission in the Tzar's 
body-guard, the Regiment of the Transfigura- 
tion, and how the prince persuaded his old 
tutor the family chaplain to marry them se- 
cretly in the chapel of the chateau ; their flight 
to Petersburg ; the joys of the year that had 
elapsed since then, — the greatest of all, per- 
haps, the day, when the Princess Carita had 
come to her hiding-place to welcome her by 
the sweet name of sister. 

The concealment of their marriage had been 
a matter of vital necessity. The young Prince 
Galitzin, last of his branch of a family exalted 
throughout the history of the Empire, had in 
his wild student days been suspected of liberal 
views, and the Tzar had designed for him a 
brilliant marriage with the daughter of one of 


i8 


Bella-Demon ia. 


the oldest conservative families of his realm. 
Hence his position in the body-guard ; hence 
the necessity for the -concealment of his mar- 
riage. Only one besides his sister knew of it, 
and that was Dmitri Keratieff, Chief of that 
Third Section, — the secret police that, even to- 
day, make life in Russia a perpetual terror. 
But Dmitri Keratieff owed much to the Galitzin 
family, and with him the secret was safe until 
such time as its keeping should conflict with 
his devotion to his master. 

The Princess Nadine lay anxiously awaiting 
her husband : her state was delicately precari- 
ous, and the mystery that surrounded her 
sometimes told hard upon her. Suppose any- 
thing should happen } The secret police, she 
knew too well, acted blindly like the Council 
of Ten upon denunciations made by unknown 
' en^emies. If such a fate should befall her idol, 
what would be his doom, — and hers.^^ At the 
thought, recurring as it did to-night with ten- 
fold persistence, she buried her head in the 
cushions and groaned rather than cried, — 

“ Husband, husband 

A rattle of the rings of the hangings, a strong 
step upon the piled-up furs, and he is with 
her. 

‘'Nadia — matiouchka (little mother), beloved! 
I am here !” 


Bella-Dentoaia, 


^9 


She is in his arms in an instant ; all her mis- 
I ery, all her apprehension, is lost in the ecstasy 
of his kiss. Yes, he is safe, — safe from all 
harm; for no one can disturb them here. 
Their secret is too well guarded. She has no 
fear. 

have been so frightened, Ladislas, every 
hour that you are not with me I torture myself 
with fears for you. Suppose they should dis- 
cover me ? Perhaps they would look upon 
your disobedience to the Tzar as cause for your 
arrest, — for— for anything. Oh, be careful, 
beloved; should anything befall you, it would 
kill me, — would kill us both. Think of that 
other life that shall be so dear to us, Ladislas. '' 

‘^Courage, — courage, NadiaT' he replies. 
‘‘There is no danger. We cannot be discov- 
ered, sweetheart. I know how lonely, how 
dull you must be. Well, to-night I have a 
surprise for you : we expect a visitor. ” 

“ A visitor V' A look of alarm creeps into 
the beautiful eyes as she echoes his words. 

“Yes. You have heard me speak of Alexis 
Alexandrovitch 

“ Alexis Dorski, the Nihilist?'' 

“ The same. My old college companion, 
unknown even to the faction of which he is 
the leader, comes to Petersburg to-night.- I 


26 


Bella-Demonia, 


want him to see my wife, my pride. He is 
coming here.'' 

‘‘ Oh, Ladislas, how imprudent you arel" 

‘‘Notatall. I have the fullest knowledge 
that his presence here is unsuspected. Noth- 
ing can ever assail Alexis Dorski if he so wills 
it. Have no fear, darling." 

As he speaks, the old servant who alone 
waits upon the Princess Ladislas Galitzin, en- 
ters the room. 

‘ ‘ What is it Y' 

'•A peddler, an old man armed with the 
passwords and countersign, desires to speak 
with your Excellency." 

“Admit him." 

The servitor retires, and a moment later, 
lifting the hangings, gives entrance to a bent 
figure carrying a pack. As soon as the servant 
has left them the peddler rises to his full height. 
With a gesture he flings off his disguise of hair 
and beard and stands before them a young 
giant. 

“Alexis Alexandrovitch!" 

“ Ladisias Ladislaievitch !" 

And the two men are locked in each other's 


arms. 


Bella-Detnonia, 


21 


CHAPTER III. 

THE ARREST. 

“ At last, after so many years, old friend 
It is the Prince Ladislas who speaks, holding 
the other by the hand. Then, turning to the 
woman whose frightened eyes are fixed upon 
the new-comer, he says, Nadia, this is my 
old friend Alexis Alexandrovitch Dorski.'' 

‘‘I have heard much of you from my hus- 
band, Alexis Alexandrovitch,'' said she, raising 
her eyes once more to Dorski's, and address- 
ing him in the familiar Russian fashion. 

Welcome to our hiding-place and our 
home." 

‘‘ No doubt you fear me, princess," returned 
Dorski ; “but your fears are groundless, be- 
lieve me. No word or act of mine can impli- 
cate your husband. I sought this interview to 
tell you^so." 

“I pray that it be so," said the Princess 
Nadine. 

“Well, and how goes the cause.?" put in 
Ladislas Galitzin, cheerily. 

“Bravely," replied the other, “both here 


22 


Bella-Dcmoh ia. 


and in the provinces. We have friends at 
court, high up, — very high, — in the Regiment 
of the Transfiguration, as in all three sections 
of the police. A few years, maybe, a few 
months, perhaps, and Russia shall be free. 
What Alexander the Second has done for us 
already he will do again. He will add to his 
reforms, and Russia will be free. If not — 
And his sentence closed with significant 
silence. 

The princess turned a look of fear towards 
her husband. 

‘'Have no fear, matiouchka/' replied the lat- 
ter, interpreting her look. “I am no con- 
spirator. Alexis and I are friends, but no 
more. I am not one of his lieutenants. By 
St. Katherine 1'' continued he, with a laugh, 
“ I care too little for it all to risk my neck. I 
am too much at peace with the world, too 
happy with you, sweetheart, to bear ill-will to- 
wards any man, be he Tzar or moujik. No, I 
was never made for a Terrorist. I left that all 
behind me when I left college ; and when our 
secret society that was to do such wonders was 
broken up without my being implicated, why, 
I thought myself well out of it, and settled 
down as a respectable married man.'" And he 
laughed again carelessly as he threw himself 
on the divan beside his wife, 


Bella-Dcmonia. 


23 


‘‘Right!’' exclaimed Dorski. “That is as 
it should be. Do not let us say anything more 
about it. See, I have brought you something. '' 
So saying, he drew from his pocket a little 
leather case. Opening it, he disclosed a por- 
trait of himself set round with opals, which he 
handed to the princess. 

“It is a little wedding-present, though it 
comes late for the wedding," said he. “But 
it may serve to impress upon your mind the 
features of a man who would willingly give up 
his liberty, and, if needs be, his life, for your 
husband. " 

“I thank you, Alexis Alexandrovitch, " re- 
plied the woman. “I shall cherish your pres- 
ent. But why did you let them set opals round 
it } I think they will bring us misfortune. Am 
I not foolish 

“Yes, indeed," cried Ladislas, “by all the 
saints, a most excellent portrait, old friend. 
It shall be one of our greatest treasures." 

The three stood together looking at the min- 
iature, when suddenly the stillness was broken 
by three heavy blows upon the outer door, and 
by a voice crying, in the silence of the night, — 

“Open, in the name of His Majesty the 
Tzar 1" 

Rvery face becarne white as they exchanged 


24 


Bella-Denionia . 


glances ; Ladislas hurriedly thrust the portrait 
into his pocket, and Dorski exclaimed, — 

Great heaven ! I am discovered ! And 
yet, — it is impossible. My presence is un- 
dreamt of. No matter; hide me, — somewhere, 
— anywhere. '' 

‘^Here, — here, — quick,'' whispered Prince 
Ladislas, pressing a spring in the frame of one 
of the large pictures. The picture swung out 
from the wall, disclosing an open space be- 
hind it, contrived in the building. ‘‘In here ; 
and do not utter a sound." 

‘ ‘ Do not betray my presence by word or 
look," whispered Dorski, gathering up his pack 
and his disguise, and stepping into the recess. 
“I will not be taken alive." 

Ladislas Galitzin hurriedly closed the pic- 
ture, and took his place on the divan beside 
his wife, who was more dead than alive with 
terror. Meanwhile, the blows on the outer 
door and the summons were repeated. 

“Open, in the name of His Majesty thi 
Tzar!" 

“Open the door!" cried Prince Galitzin, 
loud enough to be heard outside. “ There is 
no reason why the inmates of this house should 
fear the mandates of our father the Tzar. " 

Footsteps sounded in the corridor, a clank 


Bella-Demonia. 


25 


as of arms was heard, and Dmitri Keratieff 
stepped into the room. 

‘‘What is the meaning of this?’' demanded 
the prince, haughtily, “See, you have terri- 
fied my — my — mistress almost to death. We 
harbor no suspected persons here." 

“My business is with you. Excellency." 

“Indeed! Name it." 

“I hold a warrant for your arrest on a 
charge of treason against the sacred person of 
His Majesty." 

“Of treason I — I? Monstrous I Of what 
am I accused ?" 

“ Of complicity with the traitor Alexis 
Dorski." 

“ He is not here I he is not here," cried the 
princess, recovering consciousness in time to 
hear the police-officer's last words. 

“ I know it," replied the latter. “The police 
is well informed of his movementii; he is now 
in the Tkraine. The prince is arrested, how- 
ever, on the evidence of a letter he has received 
’ from Dorski, and which is in the hands of the 
police." 

“His letter I" exelaimed the prince. 
“ How—" 

“Enough said," broke in the officer. “ We 
cannot enter into explanations, Your ExceK 
lency will follow me .f" 


26 


Bella-Deuionid, 


‘‘Yes/' Ladislas was about to follow him, 
when suddenly the portrait of Dorski flashed 
across his mind. Quick as thought his hand 
sought his pocket where it lay ; but the keen 
eye of the Chief of Police caught the action, 
and, supposing the prince to be in search of 
some weapon, he sprang upon him, crying out 
as he did so a word of command in Russian. 
Two soldiers entered the room. At a sign 
from Keratieff they seized the prince's arms. 
Then Keratieff, putting his hand into the 
prince's pocket, drew forth — the miniature ! 

“Ah!" he exclaimed, “there needed but 
this. A portrait of the traitor himself carried 
on the prince's person. Come. Let us go. " 

“Send out your soldiers for a moment, 
Keratieff," said the prince. “ I have something 
to say. " 

Keratieff gave the word, and the soldiers 
retired. 

“Where am I to be taken asked Prince 
Galitzin. 

“To the Schlusselburg." 

At the word the prince turned paler yet. 
Then commanding himself, he said, — 

“Keratieff, you and I know too well what 
this means. This lady is my wife : let me be 
alone with her for five minutes, You will not 


Bella-Demonia, 


27 


refuse me. I give you my word that I will 
await you here.'' 

‘■So be it," returned the Chief of Police, 
softened in spite of himself as he took in the 
condition of affairs at a glance. “ In five 
minutes I wilt return." And he left the hus- 
band and wife alone. 

As soon as he was gone, Ladislas Galitzin 
flung himself by the side of his wife, and 
whispered eagerly in her ear : 

‘ ‘ Nadia, — matiouchka^ — look up, beloved. 
All may yet be well. They have no suspicion 
that he is here. When I am gone, aid him to 
escape. Tell him that this is Vyvian Fane's 
work ; I insulted him in the Club to-night. If 
anything should befall me, bid him avenge me, 
and you. My poor darling, how can I leave 
you thus, now } Send at once for Carita. She 
will care for you till I am free, — and longer, if 
need shall be. Come, come, be brave. See ! 
I am not afraid ! " 

And so in agony he tried to soothe, to com 
fort the paralyzed woman. It seemed like an 
instant only when Keratieff appeared, pale and 
silent, at the door. 

They went out together. 

In the outer street a droschky awaited them, 
into which Keratieff stepped with his prisoner, 


28 


Bella-Demonia. 


The two soldiers followed on horseback as the 
party moved off in the night. 

An hour later the same droschky drove away 
from the ferry landing of the Fortress of the 
Schlusselburg. As he made for his hovel by the 
Neva, the isvoshtshik said to himself, — 

‘ ‘ So that was your business with the Gospodar 
Keratieff, son of a dog ! Ah ! scoundrel, ah ! 
filth, you would strike me with your cane, 
would yoM} We shall see. The Terror is 
sometimes as powerful as the Secret Police ! 


Bella-Demonia, 


29 


\ 


CHAPTER IV. 

A NIHILIST LEADER. 

Meanwhile, as he heard the sound of the 
sleigh-bells vanish in the distance, Alexis Dorski, 
opening the picture-frame from the inside, 
stepped into the room in which the arrest had 
been made. 

The Princess Galitzin was lying motionless 
upon the divan. Kneeling by her side, the 
Terrorist endeavored to rouse her. 

“Princess,'' he whispered, “rouse yourself, 
I implore you. The night grows old, and I 
must away. Rouse yourself, and listen to me." 

Raising herself as if with great difficulty, the 
eyes of the princess met those of the Nihilist. 
As they met, she shrank back with a start, ex- 
claiming, — 

“Leave me ! leave me ! I cannot bear to 
look at you ! It was for you they took him." 

“Nay, Nadine Fedorovna, it was not for me. 
Some private revenge has been at work to- 
night, and — hear me — I swear by the Holy 
Saints and my devotion to the cause of Liberty 


30 


jBella-Demonid, 

that I will avenge your husband. Tell me, 
has he never mentioned any enemy by name. 

‘‘Yes, yes: he bade me tell you! It has 
been the work of the Englishman, Vyvian Fane. 
Swear — swear to me that if they kill Ladislas 
you will avenge him I” 

“I swear it. If this charge is proven against 
this Vyvian Fane, should it be the work of my 
whole lifetime, I will punish him. I have 
sworn it r' 

“Thank you, — thank you, Alexis Alexan- 
drovitch I Ah ! but what agony And with 
a convulsive movement the woman buried her 
head in the cushions once more. 

Alexis Dorski stood looking down at her. 
In an instant his keen instinct had taken in 
the gravity of her condition: he realized that if 
a triple murder were not to be the work of the 
night's arrest, aid must be summoned immedi- 
ately. Bending over her prostrate form, he 
whispered, in a tone whose softness would 
have made his desperate followers marvel, — 
“Tell me, Nadine Fedorovna, have you no 
friend that I can call, — no woman — 

“Carita 1 Carita I" she moaned, between her 
clinched teeth. 

Rising and hastily resuming his disguise, 
Dorski went out into the night. 


Bella- Denionia. 


Half an hour later the dvornik of the Galitzin 
Palace was roused by a knocking on his door. 

“Dog of a reveller, what wantest thou at 
such a time 

And there came back through the door the 
almost whispered words, — 

“In the name of His Majesty and of the 
Third Section, a message for her Excellency 
the- Princess Carita Alexandrovna.'' 

Hastily tumbling out of his improvised bed, 
the dvornik opened the door. There stood on 
the threshold an old peddler. 

“ Deliver this to one of the princess's women 
at once. It must reach her hand immediately. 
You understand V 

“Yes, Excellency," replied the dvornik^ ac- 
customed to seeing the emissaries of the secret 
police in every form of disguise. 

A And half an hour later the troika of the Prin- 
cess Galitzin swept out from under the gate- 
way and disappeared in the direction of the 
Neva. 

It still wanted three hours of daylight, and 
the peddler, having delivered his summons at 
the Galitzin Palace, thought for an instant, and 
then stepped off at a brisk pace down the broad 
Prospect, towards the square of St. Katerine, 
where three or four droschkies stood, awaiting 
the chance of a night-customer. 


32 Bella-Demonia, 

As he passed the group of isvoshishiks that 
stood smoking in the door-way he laid one 
hand upon his hip, the fingers pointing earth- 
ward, raising the other to his ear. As he did 
so he ejaculated the familiar greeting, — 

‘ ‘ Zdraslvouitdi ” ( ‘ ‘ Good-night ”). 

And one of the group answered with a gut- 
tural Choroskho !” (“All right!”) 

The peddler pursued his way. 

The moujik who had answered his salutation, 
after a moment’s delay, bade his companions 
good-night, and, mounting the driving-seat of 
his droschky, started off in pursuit of the ped- 
dler. He passed him under a lamp, and as 
the peddler repeated the motion he had previ- 
ously made, the moujik drew his horse towards 
the curb, and held out a hand palm upward, as 
if ascertaining whether it rained or not. 

“The night is fine,” said the peddler. 

“The air is free,” said the isvoshtshik. 

“The air is Russian,” said the peddler. 

“Men must have air,” said the isvoshtshik. 

‘ ‘ Choroskho 

The droschky drew up, and without a word 
the peddler got in and was driven a few yards 
down a by-street. Here he said “ Halt I” and 
the droschky stopped. The peddler alighted, 
and, drawing a small object from beneath his 
arm, held it up to the moujik. It was a small 


Bella-Demon ia. 


33 


gold disk on which was enamelled a red cross. 

‘‘Holy St. Nicholas ejaculated the moujik: 
“it is the Chief. What are my lord’s com- 
mands 

“One of the isvoshtshiks of Petersburg drove 
a prisoner from the Neva to one of the fort- 
resses to-night. You will bring him to this 
address at ten o’clock in the morning.” And 
the peddler wrote a few words on a slip of 
paper, which the isvoshtshik read carefully and 
then destroyed. 

“If he be alive, he will be there. Excel- 
lency.” 

“Good ! Salutation and freedom !” 

“Amen. Salutation and freedom !” 

And the pair parted once more in opposite 
directions. 

At the time appointed next morning, Alexis 
Dorski sat before the stove in a room of one 
of the houses of a quiet suburb of St. Peters- 
burg. He was immersed in thought, but looked 
up expectantly as the clock struck. He had 
not long to wait. Almost immediately the 
moujik whom he had accosted on the Newski 
Prospect entered, accompanied by the one 
whom we met at the opening of this history. 

After casting over him a keen glance of in- 
spection, Dorski and the new-comer exchanged 
three or four almost imperceptible signs and 


34 


6ella-Demo7t ia. 


countersigns. He was apparently satisfied with 
his examination, and said, — 

'‘Last night you were employed by the 
police. '' 

"Yes, Excellency.'' 

"To what ferry did you take the prisoner?" 

"To the ferry of the Schlusselburg, Excel- 
lency. " 

"Good God ! Know you anything of the 
arrest ?" 

"Yes, indeed. Excellency," answered the 
moujik, eagerly, "that do I. Earlier in the 
evening a foreigner hired me to take him to 
the head of the Newski Prospect. There, when 
I demanded my fare, he struck me with his 
cane : see, here is the scar : it will be weeks 
healing. There he was met by the Gospodar 
Keratieflf of the police, and, burning with fury, 
I hung about. When they parted, Dmitri 
Keratieff took me to police head-quarters, thence 
to the Neva, and thence with his prisoner to the 
Schlusselburg Ferry. Ah ! dog of a foreigner ! 
wait for me !" 

"Did Keratieff address the foreigner by 
name ?" 

"Yes, Excellency : it was — it was — it was — 
Ivan — something. " 

" Vyvian Fane ?" 


Bella-Demonia, 


35 


‘‘ Yes ! yes ! that was it. God be praised ! I 
could not remember. '' 

Good ! That will do. Your name 

‘‘Rodia Pouschkoff. '' 

“It is well. Good-day. Salutation and 
freedom 

“Amen. Salutation and freedom 

The two moujiks left the room. 

“Now, Vyvian Fane, — since that seems to 
be your^name, — the issue remains between you 
and me. If the fate of the Schlusselburg be- 
falls Ladislas Ladislaievitch, beware ! The 
world is not wide enough to hide you from the 
talons of the Terror 


36 


Bella-Demonia. 


CHAPTER V. 

THE PRINCESS CARITA. 

Two days have elapsed since the events oc- 
curred which are recorded in the preceding 
chapter. 

In one of the lower rooms of the Galitzin 
Palace, fitted up as a boudoir, the Princess 
Carita Galitzin sat at her writing-table, her head 
resting on her hands. She was dressed in blacky 
and her sable garments served to heighten the 
pallor of her face no less than the red eyelids 
that announced the fact that she had been 
weeping. 

Every few minutes she would eagerly look 
through the papers on the desk before her, as 
if in search of something which she sought in 
vain. 

At last she is roused by a fuotstep in the 
corridor. The hangings of the door part and 
fall together again, and the Honorable John 
Vyvian Fane enters the room unannounced. 

‘‘Well,'' he says, by way of greeting, as he 
flings himself into a chair, “at last Madame la 
Princesse is good enough to send for her devoted 


Bella-Demon ia. 


37 


slave, after an absence from home of forty-eight 
hours. Pray, what , new intrigue, what new 
amourette, is engrossing the Princess Carita's 
attention The cruel sneer is on his lips, a 
tone of raillery is in his voice. ’ 

have been at the death-bed of two of 
your victims,' she replies, never taking her eyes 
from his. 

You speak in riddles, princess." 

‘‘No, I speak plainly. You have killed a 
woman and her child by way of revenging your- 
self upon a man who never harmed you, whose 
only crime was to know your true vile self. " 

“What do you mean V 

“I mean that you have caused the arrest of 
my brother by means of a letter that he confided 
to me for safe-keeping, and which you, cow- 
ardly thief that you are, have stolen from this 
bureau." 

“I am sorry, of course, to hear of your 
brother s misfortune, but a man who is in com- 
munication with traitors to the Tzar has no 
business to get married, — especially clandes- 
tinely. " 

The princess rose and came close to him. 

“How did you know," said she, “that I 
was speaking of my brother's wife 

The man saw his false step immediately, and 
endeavored to retrieve it. 


38 


Bella-Demonia, 


did not know/' he stammered : ‘‘I only 
assumed. You seemed so excited that I con- 
cluded—" 

Cease lying to me, John Vyvian Fane ! I 
do not expect you to show mercy, but I look 
at least for shame, even from you. What have 
you done with the document you have stolen ?" 

“Really, princess, this scene is beginning to 
pass the possibilities. If your brother has been 
arrested for treason, I am of course sorry, for it 
must naturally entail unpleasant consequences 
upon you. If he has been so foolish as to 
make a secret marriage, I am of course sorry 
for his wife. If, as you say, she is dead, I 
think she is better off than she would be as 
the wife of a convict with a ' wolf s passport ' to 
Siberia. This is all I have to say." 

“You hound !" 

“Take care, princess. I am not accustomed 
to insult of this kind, and I will not allow it 
even from you. Do you hear me ? I wdll not 
allow it ! Do you think that I am a man to be 
played with.?^ I think I have given you proof 
ere now to the contrary. Be good enough to 
remember what I say !" 

For all reply the princess pointed to the 
door. 

“Go !" said she, “and never let me see your 
coward face again. Go, I say, or I will sum- 


Bella-Denionia. — 


39 


mon my servants and have you thrown out, — 
ay ! thrown out, — and I will take the conse- 
quences of my action. Do you think I, Carita 
Galitzin, fear you, police spy though you have 
proved yourself to be.^^ You hear me. I am 
ready to take the consequences, I tell you.'' 

^‘In any case," returned Fane, with a violent 
effort at self-control, “I see that it is useless to 
prolong this interview. I leave you now ; but 
I will return when you are prepared to listen to 
reason. I deny all your charges against me, 
and at some future time I will prove to you 
that any trouble your — relations may be in they 
have brought upon themselves. Good-morn- 
ing. Mind ! when I return you will be civil : 
at present I can make excuses for you. " 

And with a feeble attempt at nonchalance, 
the Honorable John Vyvian Fane left the room. 

Left by herself, the Princess Galitzin buried 
her head once more in her hands and resumed 
her interrupted chain of thought. At last she 
rose, and, hastily effecting some changes in her 
toilet, she prepared to leave the house. What- 
ever was to be her brother's fate, she must seek 
an interview with him at once ; and well she 
knew the difficulties that lay before her in en- 
compassing her end. 

All that day she flew from official to official, 
from minister to minister ; she even sought and 


40 


Bella-Demonia, 


obtained an interview with the Tzarewitch him- 
self, and nightfall saw her, provided with the 
necessary passes, at the ferry of the Schlussel- 
burg, accompanied by a captain of the military 
police. 



Bella-Denionia. 


41 


CHAPTER VI. 

IN THE FORTRESS OF THE SCHLUSSELBURG. 

On one of the islands that cluster in the 
mouth of the river Neva rises a gaunt pile of 
buildings, within hailing-distance of which no 
boat save one ever approaches. It is the 
dreaded Fortress of the Schlusselburg, one of 
the great prisons where political suspects are 
incarcerated. The other is the Fortress of St. 
Peter and St. Paul. The Schlusselburg has 
been dramatically described by an American 
writer as follows: ‘‘The guards are so thick 
on the banks of the island that they can speak 
to one another, and their orders are, as they 
pace their beats, to shoot any person who at- 
tempts to land. No warning is given, no pass- 
word is asked. As soon as the foot of a stranger 
touches the turf on the banks of the island a 
bullet is fired at his heart. His body falls into 
the stream and floats down to the sea. No 
questions are asked. Only one boat is allowed 
to land on the island ; that is painted black 
and belongs to the police. No one has ever 
returned from that prison. People may havQ 


42 


Bella-Demonia, 


been released from it, but if so they have never 
confessed the fact ; and the popular belief is 
that whoever lands there once never leaves 
alive except to go to Siberia/' 

It was hither that the young Prince Ladislas 
had been brought, and at nightfall on the day 
of which we speak the Princess Galitzin took 
her seat in the boat to gain the fortress on a 
visit — an unheard-of concession — in company 
with the two officers. 

She. was met at the entrance to the fortress 
by the chaplain of the prison, an old parish 
priest, a hatiushka who had found his way 
thither twenty years before for having sym- 
pathized with and ministered to some dying 
Nihilist. 

The old man's face was inexpressibly sad as 
he greeted the princess with the benediction of 
the Church. 

''We must be brave, my daughter," he said. 
"The prince your brother is grievously ill. 
On the night of his arrival he was confined in 
one of the lower cells, and the cold and damp 
attacked him. You must be prepared for a 
great change, " 

' ' My God ! is he dead V 

" No, my child." 

"He is dying?" 

^'We are in the hands of God !" 


Bella-Demonia, _ 


43 


She laid her hand upon his sleeve: 

‘‘Tell me, batiushka. They have poisoned 
him V' 

The priest made the sign of the cross as he 
replied once more, — 

“We are in the hands of God, my daugh- 
ter. Come with me. They have moved him 
into one of the upper rooms. 

jf: * * * * * 

In a room looking over the city whose lights 
twinkled across the water, the Prince Ladislas 
lay dying. That was obvious to the princess 
the moment she laid her eyes upon the wasted 
form and drawn features. The film of death 
was growing over his eyes. For a moment he 
hardly seemed to notice her; then, raising him- 
self with an effort for an instant, only to fall 
back upon his pallet exhausted, he whis- 
pered, — 

“Carita — you ! Nadia, — where is she.?^’' 

“Ladislas, — brother, — my God! how can I 
tell you V And she sank on her knees by the 
dying man's side. 

He raised himself again on one elbow. 

‘ ‘ Where is she ? Why do you not answer ? 
Holy Mother ! has he killed her, too ? Yes I 
yes ! She is dead, — my wife, Nadia ; i$ it not 
so?" 


44 


Bella-Demonia. 


He was answered only by the broken sobs 
of the prostrate woman. 

‘^Carita,” he whispered, with fast-failing 
breath, ‘'you will avenge us, you and Alexis. 
Listen : it was the Englishman Vyvian Fane 
that betrayed me. He stole the letter from 
you: how he did it I cannot tell; it matters 
not. Keratieff has it. Your swear this. 

“I swear it, brother !” 

“Thank God ! Come closer. I cannot see 
you, but you are there, are you not,- matiouchka 
beloved '' 

A deep sigh ended his sentence, which his 
sister caught in a last wild kiss. 

The Prince Ladislas was dead. 

She had arrived but just in time. 

The clocks were striking midnight as the 
princess landed once more at the ferry pier. 

Her troika awaited her, and she was swal- 
lowed up by the night. 


Bella-Demonia. 


4S 


CHAPTER VIL 
A woman’s vengeance. 

Early in the day that succeeded the death 
of the Prince Ladislas Galitzin in the Fortress 
of the Schlusselburg, the Chief of the Secret 
Police, Dmitri Keratieff, sat in his office, 
pondering over the events of the last few days. 
The Chief was not satisfied with the turn that 
affairs had taken. In the exercise of his duties 
as commander of the dreaded Third Section 
many a cruel task had fallen to his lot to per- 
form ; often he had known himself to be the 
instrument of private vengeances which he had 
had to work out or be himself suspected of 
sympathy with the omnipresent agents of the 
Nihilists. But this time he felt that he had 
been the compulsory party to a crime that sur- 
passed any . in his official experience in cold 
ferocity. It was therefore with a new feeling 
of distaste and apprehension that he read on 
the card that had been brought him by one of 
his subordinates the name of the Princess Galit- 


zin. 


46 


Bella-T)emonia, 


Still, there was no reason that he could 
allege for not receiving her, whilst there ex- 
isted, as he knew, many why he should do so, 
and finally he gave orders that she should be 
admitted. 

She entered the room a moment later, and 
seated herself opposite to him. Thus placed, 
they regarded each other in silence for the 
space of a full minute. At last the Police 
Agent spoke: 

‘‘What can I do for you, madame said 
he. 

“You can do me the first and last favor that 
any member of our family will ever ask of you 
in return for all or any that we have done for 
you, Dmitri Semenovitch.’' 

The Chief of Police fidgeted uneasily in his 
chair. He did not like the proem ; but all he 
'said was, — 

' ‘ ‘ Pray proceed. Anything that I can reason- 

ably do for the Princess Galitzin shall be done. '' 

“ Good replied she. “This is what I re- 
quire. My brother, as you know, is dead. 
His arrest was the death-blow of his wife, of 
whose existence you alone besides myself were 
aware. She died in my arms, and her child 
with her, the night after Ladislas was taken 
from her. I demand from you the documents 
on which he was arrested.'' 


Bella-Devtonia, 


47 


Princess/' replied Keratieff, '‘in the first 
place I do not admit the existence of any docu- 
ment that led to the late Prince Galitzin's ar- 
rest ; but, even if such were the case, what you 
ask would be impossible. Supposing that such 
documents existed, I should be responsible for 
their safe custody, and were they to leave my 
hands I should get in exchange for them ‘a 
wolfs passport, ’as they say. And the Siberian 
mines at my time of life are not a thing to be 
played with. " 

‘ ‘ One moment, " returned the Princess, ‘ ‘ and 
I will prove to you that I am already well in- 
formed. The Prince Ladislas Galitzin was ar- 
rested in consequence of a letter written to him 
by the Nihilist leader Dorski. This letter was 
stolen from me and delivered to you by one of 
your foreign agents, the Honorable John Vyvian 
Fane. By all the rights of common gratitude 
I demand this letter of you, as a man." 

“ Princess," replied Keratieff, imperturbably, 
“lam not in a position to admit the correct- 
ness of your — surmises. I do not know, as a 
man, — the capacity in which you make this re- 
quest of me, — that Mr. Vyvian Fane has any 
connection with this department. If you have 
nothing more to urge, I must beg you to con- 
clude this interview, which, believe me, is as 
painful to me as it is to you. " 


48 


Bclla-Demon ia. 


For a few moments the princess remained in 
silent thought. Then, as if with an effort, she 
made up her mind, and, turning once more to 
Keratieff, who had risen as if to terminate the 
conversation, she said, — 

‘‘Dmitri Semenovitch, I will say no more of 
the relations which have existed between our 
respective families. I appeal to you as a man 
no longer. But as head of the Russian police 
you have been made perforce the repository of 
many family secrets, many details of domestic 
dramas reach your ears. I am going to recount 
to you the incidents of a tragedy more bitter 
than any you yet have heard within these walls. 
Listen 

An hour later, at the close of her story the 
Chief of Police rose from his seat, and, going 
to an iron chest that stood in the corner of the 
room, he took thence a paper, which he handed 
to the princess. 

“What you have told me,’* said he, gravely, 
“convinces me of your right to this document. 
Here is the letter stolen from you by John 
VyvianFane: he confessed the theft to me when 
he delivered it to me as the piece d accusation on 
which the arrest took place. Make your mind 
easy, madame. This Englishman will leave 


Bella -Demon ia. 


49 


the country at once, never to return. In three 
days from now he will cross the frontier.'' 

‘‘At last ! at last !" thought the princess, as 
she was rapidly borne through the streets of 
Petersburg, ten minutes afterwards. “I have 
my proofs, and you shall be avenged, Ladislas, 
and you, Nadia, sweet sister mine. My God, 
I thank thee ! — I thank thee !" 

Five days later St. Petersburg rang with the 
news that the travelling carriage of the Honor- 
able John Vyvian Fane, whose figure had been 
a prominent one in the festivities of the past 
season, had been attacked by brigands just over 
the Polish frontier, and that the Englishman 
had been massacred. 

That night the Princess Galitzin fell on her 
knees in the oratory of the Galitzin Palace and 
cried aloud to God, — 

“Vengeance is mine ! vengeance is mine!" 

And the chaplain, entering the oratory a 
moment after, found her in floods of tears, the 
first that she had shed since the murder of her 
brother. 


I 

X 

I 


BOOK l.-VIENNA. 


CHAPTER I. 

A MASQUERADE BALL. 

The grand masquerade at the Vienna Opera 
House, of the 15th August, 1876, was at its 
height. . 

Round about the corridors, in and out of the 
boxes, over the floor, the stage, and the bal- 
conies, surged the bedlamite crowd of foolishly- 
Idressed men and dominoed women, who were 
enjoying, or trying to enjoy, or pretending to 
enjoy, the grand masquerade.'' The scene 
was gay enough, as novelists say, in all con- 
science, but it must be confessed that unless 
one is a member of a large and merry party, or 
unless one has some particular intrigue to carry 
to its more or less lurid termination, a masked 
ball is the deadliest, dullest, dreariest affair that 
was ever invented for the torture of the long- 
suffering and ironically so-called '^gay world." 


Betla-Demo7iia, — 


On no mind did this circumstance impress 
itself with drearier persistence than on that of 
Captain the Honorable Aubyn Goddard, some- 
time of the Twentieth Hussars, and now occu- 
pying the uncomfortable but none the less on 
that account eagerly-sought-after position of 
Queen's Messenger. 

Captain Goddard was the ideal guardsman 
of the young lady’s dream. Well over the 
regulation six feet in height, and broad in pro- 
portion, his well-balanced head was covered 
with close-cropped fair hair ; his irreproachable 
mustache was carefully trimmed, and the look 
of intense boredom on his handsome face gave 
him a certain Byronic expression that evidently 
found favor in the majority of bright eyes that 
flashed from beneath dominos of all colors ; or 
at least so it would seem from the persistency 
with which the fair — or dark — artillerists at- 
tacked him, with nod, beck, wreathed smile, 
nudge, punch, and apology. 

But Captain Aubyn Goddard seemed invul- 
nerable, for no irritation or challenge seemed 
able to rouse him from his apathy as he leaned 
against one of the pilasters at the foot of the 
grand staircase and slightly yawned as he 
watched the procession before him and won- 
dered vaguely on the chance that found him 
there when he would infinitely rather be in bed. 


§2 


BeUa-Deinonia, 


I use the word “chance '' advisedly. 

In his capacity of Queen’s Messenger he had 
arrived in Vienna bearing despatches the previ- 
ous evening, and early that morning had deli- 
vered his despatches at the Austrian Foreign 
Office. He was to leave on the following 
afternoon. 

For the previous five years the political world 
had been in a ferment over that time-honored 
bogie, the Eastern Question. In 1871 Mr. 
Gladstone had sat calmly in Whitehall, and 
uttered no protest, whilst Russia, repudiating 
the Treaty of Paris of 1856, converted the Black 
Sea into a Russian lake, and the effete demago- 
gue whom Lord Beaconsfield has handed down 
to posterity in his famous epigram, as “a 
sophisticated rhetorican inebriated with the ex- 
uberance of his own verbosity,” had rendered 
the taking of Sevastopol vain, and surrendered 
all that Europe had won with her blood in the 
Crimean War. From that time (1871) a cloud 
had begun to gather in the East, which now 
threatened to burst and engulf the Balkan 
Peninsula, and called forth the historic “An- 
drassy Note” in December, 1875, following on 
the rising in Herzegovina. 

At the sound of Count Andrassy’s clarion, 
Europe awakened from the sleep into which she 
had been lulled by successive Liberal govern- 


Bella-Demonia. 


53 


merits and Gladstonian croonings, and through- 
out 1876 there had been almost daily inter- 
change of despatches between London, Berlin, 
Vienna, and Constantinople. As a natural 
consequence, trusty messengers were in in- 
1 creased demand, and Captain Aubyn Goddard, 
having, unlike the majority of men of his years, 
spent his days as a subaltern in the study of 
European politics and languages, had been one 
of the first to receive a commission as one of 
Her Majesty’s postmen, and to commence the 
nomad career of Queen’s Messenger specially 
detailed for Oriental service. 

Things were quieting down, and Europe 
might have had peace, when the deposition and 
suicide of Abd-ul-Aziz, and the ten day’s sul- 
tanate of the imbecile Murad the Fifth, once 
more gave the malcontents in the Balkan Pen- 
insula the opportunity they had looked for, 
and brought the present Sultan Abd-ul-Hamid 
the Second to the throne, determined to put 
down the disturbances that threatened to rend 
asunder the empire founded by the first Othman 
and consolidated by Suleiman the Magnificent. 

Some cruelties practiced by the Turkish sol- 
diery at Batak in Bulgaria afforded Mr. Glad- 
stone the Irrepressible an opportunity to 
fulminate which no consideration for the welfare 
of Europe could allow him to let slip, and acr 


54 


Bella-Demoit ia. 


cordingly he published his incandescent pam- 
phlet on “ Bulgarian Atrocities ’" that in course 
of time plunged Europe in war and gave Rus- 
sia the opportunity she had so. long desired to 
encroach in the southeast and southwest of her 
dominions. 

European Cabinets were preparing for the 
Conference at Constantinople of January, iSyy, 
and thus we find Captain Aubyn Goddard in 
Vienna in the August of the preceding year. 

As the bearer of important despatches, the 
Queen’s Messenger had not thought it expedient 
to look up any of his convivial acquaintances 
in the Austrian capital, and after delivering his 
despatches in the morning he had taken a long 
and solitary drive, idly wondering how he 
should kill the hours of that evening and of 
the following day until he should return to the 
Foreign Office. 

On his return from his drive his question was 
answered for him. As he entered his hotel an 
envelope was put into his hand. 

He turned it over and over, profoundly per- 
plexed. What could it mean ? Whom could 
it be from.? He had apprised no one of his 
arrival, and the handwriting was entirely un- 
familiar. But that he was known was evident; 
for the superscription was in full : 

Jh — Captain the Honorable Aubyn Goddard^ 


Bella-Demonia, 


ss 


There was nothing to indicate whether the 
note was addressed in a male or a female hand- 
writing : at last he came to the conclusion that 
there was only one solution for the mystery, 
and that that was inside the envelope. 

Accordingly he opened it. 

Nothing ! not a word of any kind. Only a 
ticket for the masked ball at the opera-house ‘ 
that evening. 

Well I there was his evening accounted for. 
But whence could the ticket have come } Who 
had brought it? A servant in a black livery 
that gave no indication of his master s rank or 
nationality. 

Anyhow/' thought the Queen's Messenger, 
‘‘Til go. There can be no harm in that. I 
know how to take care of myself. No doubt 
my mysterious host will reveal his — or her.?—* 
incognito, at the ball." 

And so he had dined, had strolled out on to 
the Prater and watched the motley passing 
panorama of people as he listened to the 
strains of “unser Strauss," and when the last 
chords of the march from ‘‘Tannhauser" had 
exploded into the blue vault of the sounding- 
board he stepped into a cab and was deposited 
at the doors of the Grand Opera-House. 

But that had been two hours previous to the 
momerit when we first set eyes on him, and a^ 


56 


Bella-Deinonia . 


yet no solution of the mystery of his presence 
there had offered itself The ball was at its 
height, and would presently wane. People 
who had come on business had transacted it 
and gone away, people who had come after 
intrigues had found them and were developing 
them, and people who had wandered in, unat- 
tached and for no particular reason, were be- 
ginning to have had enough of it and were 
turning their thoughts homeward. 

Among these latter, as we have said, was the 
Honorable Aubyn Goddard, and he had just 
stretched himself and was casting a last look 
round, after the manner of a man who is about 
to depart, when a woman passed him. 

Her figure, which was gorgeously propor- 
tioned, was entirely clad in a tightly-fitting 
domino of black satin, heavily brocaded with a 
raised black embroidery. A hood covered her 
hair, and a black half-mask rendered more bril- 
liant a pair of grand black eyes that caught his 
for an instant as she passed, and the rich crim- 
son of a rather stern mouth.- The jaw was 
massive, and the complexion colorless. Thus 
much Goddard had had time to notice, when 
his attention was diverted to a shambling awk- 
ward figure that seemed to be following her. 
It was that of a man in the costume of a medi- 
aeval jester, that accorded well with his sinister. 


Bella-Demonia. — 


57 


ugly face. As the woman disappeared in the 
crowd, Goddard saw the hunchback address 
her, and saw her shrink from him with a gesture 
of repulsion, leaving him biting his nails as he 
leered after her for a moment before starting in 
pursuit. 

Captain Goddard for the first time since his 
arrival felt an awakening interest in the scene, 
and resumed his place against the pilaster, 
waiting for the brocaded domino to pass again. 

Suddenly he heard an exclamation behind 
him, and, looking round, saw the same woman 
hastily descending the grand staircase. At the 
same moment the hunchback appeared, shuf- 
fling down after her, evidently in hot pursuit. 
He caught her at the foot of the stairs, and as 
he passed slipped a piece of paper into her 
hand which she instantly dropped. Next mo- 
ment both hunchback and domino once more 
disappeared. 

By this time thoroughly aroused, Goddard 
stooped and picked up the twisted scrap of 
paper, though not without a certain sensation 
that he had no right to do so. He opened it. 

The paper was blank. 

‘'Egad,'' said he to himself, “this is getting 
interesting. But, despatches or no despatches, 
that little beast mustn't be allowed to insult 


58 


Bella-Demonia. 


that glorious creature/' And Captain Goddard 
— who was only a man, after all — started off in 
the direction the pair had taken. 

His towering frame forced for him a passage 
through the throng, and he had hardly got 
half-way around before he found himself im- 
mediately behind the brocaded domino. 

Where was the hunchback Ah ! there he 
was. He had passed the domino, and was 
just advancing as if to address her, when the 
woman turned sharply and was almost thrown 
into Goddard’s arms. 

‘‘I beg your pardon,” said she in English 
without a trace of foreign accent, as she stood 
irresolute before him. 

“ I beg yours,” replied Goddard. ‘'Can I 
be of any assistance } I see that you are being 
annoyed.” 

“If an utter stranger may so far trespass 
upon the goodness of a gentleman, may I beg 
you to conduct me to my carriage? I am 
alarmed and foolishly upset by this man’s per- 
secution.” 

“Certainly,” answered Goddard, extending 
his arm, as he looked round in search of the 
hunchback, who had disappeared. 

Together they made their way to the en- 
trance, Suddenly the woman spoke; 


Bella- Demonia, 


59 


‘‘I beg that you will forgive me, and I hope 
you will not misunderstand my object in beg- 
ging your momentary protection, but I felt 
that as an English gentleman I could trust you 
not to look upon me as — as — one of these.” 

^‘Of course; of course,” replied Goddard, ^ 
feeling nevertheless vaguely disappointed. 

They had reached the grand entrance, and 
Goddard made as if to turn. 

‘‘Not that way,” said the domino. “My 
carriage is at the side entrance.’^ 

“Oh !” returned the Queen’s Messenger, his 
spirits imperceptibly reviving. 

She led him down a narrow passage to a 
door that opened upon a side street. At the 
curb stood a perfectly appointed black coup6, 
with a single horse of the same color. God- 
dard opened the door, and she stepped in. 

“Will you not accept my protection as far 
as you have to go .?” said Goddard, seeing his 
“ adventure” vanishing into thin air. “You 
may not yet be safe.” 

“No,” said she, raising her hand as if to 
stop him. “ I am quite safe now.” 

“Can I direct your coachman ' 

“ He needs no directions.” 

“At least you will allow me to call and 
ascertain that you are quite recovered from 
your alarm,” pleaded Goddard, despairingly. 


6o 


Bella-Demo7i ia. 


The woman appeared to reflect for a mo- 
ment, and then she said, — 

I give you that permission, will you 
promise not to make any inquiries about me, 
and to forget afterwards that we ever met?'" 

‘^Yes,'' — this desperately. 

On your honor 
On my honor.'' 

"‘Very well." And she' took a card from 
the rack before her, and scribbled a word or 
two on it in pencil, saying, as she handed it to 
him, ‘‘Do me the pleasure to breakfast with 
me at this address at twelve to-morrow, or 
rather to-day." 

“ I will be punctual." 

“That is well. And now good-night. Au 
revoir^ and a thousand thanks. Captain Auhyn 
Goddard /" 

His name ! she knew it ! He started back 
to get a better view of the carriage. Instantly 
the door was slammed from the inside, and 
the coupe dashed off and was lost in the dimly- 
lighted street. 

Goddard took the card which he held in his 
hand to the nearest lamp. On it was engraved, 
in tiny capitals, — 

The Baroness Altdorff, 
and an address was added in penpil 


belia-Demonia, 


6i 

‘‘Well/' I'm damned!" remarked Captain 
Aubyn Goddard to himself, as he lit a cigar and 
walked round to the main entrance of the 
opera-house as a point of departure for his 
stroll home in the moonlight. 


62 


iBella-Demonla, 


CHAPTER 11. 

THE BARONESS ALIDORFF. 

Notwithstanding the late hour of his return 
from the ball, and the fact that after his return 
he had spent an hour in fruitless wonder on 
the events — or rather the event — of the evening, 
it was a good two hours before midday when 
Captain Aubyn Goddard left his hotel and pro- 
ceeded to stroll almost unconsciously in the 
direction of the place of his rendezvous. 

To say that he was interested and perplexed 
is to use a miserably inadequate form of words; 
fbut the main outcome of his reflections was 
that he put the whole thing down as a haU 
masque, intrigue of a rather more than usual 
interest, as regarded its commencement at any 
rate. 

There was something indescribably baffling 
about the woman he had escorted to the street, 
and whom he hoped to see again within a 
couple of hours. There was nothing in her 
voice or manner that betrayed aught but per- 
fect gentleness of birth and breeding. The 


Bclla-Demonia, 


63 


idea of risking a word of reproof from those 
wonderful lips, or a look of disdain from those 
amazing eyes, was quite out of the question; 
and yet she had made his acquaintance in almost 
orthodox bal-masque style, and had given him 
a rendezvous for the morrow in quite orthodox 
haUviasque style. To the Queen's Messenger 
on service, adventures of all kinds are neces- 
sarily a forbidden luxury, and yet Goddard 
would not for one moment admit to himself 
that he was running into any personal danger. 
He could not retrospectively satisfy himself of 
the woman's nationality. She spoke very per- 
fect English; and yet there was a pretty un- 
certainty about her r's that betrayed either for- 
eign birth or long residence abroad. 

Of the manner of his coming reception, how- 
ever, he had no doubt. He would be ushered 
into a boudoir from which daylight would be 
carefully excluded, a scent of musk or some- 
thing equally sensuous would hang in the air. 
the room would be hung with soft silks and 
decorated with heavily-perfumed exotic flowers, 
and the woman herself would either be re- 
clining on a divan, or would enter the room 
with the upward sweep of a shapely arm through 
velvet portieres, clad in some bewitching and 
lace-covered negligL The woman herself, he 
felt certain, would be dark, and of a heavy, 


64 


Bella-Denion la. 


sensuous type of beauty. The face would be 
not quite innocent of the veloutine of Fay, and 
would be either of a brilliant coloring or of a 
properly improper ivory pallor. 

Together they would partake of a delicate 
and recherche repast, and after breakfast she 
would sing to him, accompanying herself on 
the piano, or more probably on the guitar. 
And then — Well, why anticipate? 

He was sufficiently “ experienced '' to know 
exactly what to expect. 

His reflections were suddenly cut short by 
his arrival at the very house, “The Villa Alt- 
dorff,'*' which the incognita of the night before 
had inscribed upon the card she had given him. 
It was situated quite on the outskirts of the 
city, where the suburbs begin to assume a dis- 
tinctly rural appearance. A high quickset 
hedge divided and hid the grounds of the villa 
from the road, but a barred gate opened upon 
a curving drive that led up to the house. A 
glance at the house did not serve to enlighten 
the Queen s IMessenger. It had the appearance 
of being deserted. All the windows were 
closed with heavy shutters. No smoke rose 
from the clustered chimneys, no sign of life 
appeared within the gate, which was securely 
fastened. 


Hella-bemonia, 


With difficulty restraining an exclamation of 
surprise, and forgetting, in his astonishment, 
his promise not to make inquiries, Goddard 
turned to a municipal gardener who was sweep- 
ing under the tulip-trees that lined the quiet 
suburban road. 

‘‘What is this house?” he asked. 

“That,” returned the man, eyeing him sus- 
piciously, “is the Villa Altdorff.” 

“ And who lives here?” 

“No one.” 

“How? No one?” 

‘ ‘ No. It has been closed ever since the death 
of the Baroness Altdorff, three years ago.” 

“But it does not look neglected.” 

“ No; the family keep the gardens neat, but 
it is never occupied.” 

“You are sure ?” 

The man vouchsafed no answer. He had 
turned once more to his work, and studiously 
ignored the questioner, whom he probably took 
for a gentlemanly burglar compiling notes for 
a campaign. 

So this was the end of his adventure ! Better 
so, after all, thought the Queen's Messenger, 
since he had to be at the Foreign Office at four 
o receive Andrassy's despatches. The end ? 
Stay ! it wanted yet an hour of mid-day ; he 
would continue his walk and return at the 


66 


Bella-Demonia, 


time appointed; at least should chance ever 
throw him against his dazzling domino again 
she should not be able to reproach him with 
not having fulfilled the terms of her invitation. 

The Honorable Aubyn Goddard walked on, 
beyond the outer fortifications. 

Punctually at twelve o’clock he found him- 
self once more at the gate of the Villa Alt- 
dorff; and now a new surprise awaited him. 
The gate stood open! He entered. As he 
walked up the drive he noted with ever-increas- 
ing wonderment that the shutters were all 
thrown open, as were the lower windows. 
From one chimney a column of smoke rose 
into the air. On the veranda in front stood 
two chairs, and some Oriental rugs lay before 
them. On one of them lay a shawl and a 
book, giving evidence of recent occupation. 

I From one corner of the rug a very British fox- 
terrier rose, stretched himself, and trotted 
down the drive to meet him and assure him- 
self that the perfume of the visitor was a 
friendly perfume. 

As he reached the door it was opened by a 
grave butler in the correctest black, — not by 
the pert Parisian maid he had anticipated, — 
who ushered him at once into a drawing-room 
matted with Indian grass and furnished through- 
out in the white-gold style ascribed to Louis 


Bella-De7noiiia, 

XV. Dazed beyond the power of expression, 
Goddard was walking to a window to inspect 
the exterior, when the full soft voice that had 
been echoing in his brain for the past ten hours 
said behind him, — 

“Captain Goddard.'' 

He turned, to see his hostess advancing to- 
wards him with out-stretched hand. 

True to his anticipation, she was dark; but 
there the correctness of his anticipation began 
and ended. The gorgeous figure was held 
with stately erectness, and was clad from throat 
to foot in the most correctly fitting of tailor- 
made suits (“Turned out by Morgan, for a 
fiver !" ejaculated Goddard to himself), at the 
throat and wrists a collar and cuffs of the 
snowiest linen, secured by plain gold buttons. 
Her only ornament was a crimson rose thrust 
into the bosom of the dress. The raven-black 
hair was carried smoothly off the high white 
forehead and drawn to a simple coil at the 
back of the head. The vision before him was 
one of ideal health, perfect womanly beauty, 
and eminent “good form." Aubyn Goddard 
stood speechless. The Baroness Altdorff was, 
of course, perfectly self-possessed. 

“You are punctual. Captain Goddard. 
That is well. We shall have the more time in 


6g 


Bella-Demonid, 


which to make each other's acquaintance, — or 
rather to improve it. " 

‘'Pardon me," said Goddard, in reply “if 
for a few moments I am too bewildered to 
talk rationally. You have me at a great dis- 
advantage. Will you tell me where we have 
met before to-day 

“ Not now. But before we part, — yes. Let 
me see : at four o’clock you must be at the 
Foreign Office, at five you leave Vienna. I 
am right, am I not ? Yes ? Then I propose 
that we breakfast at once and talk afterwards." 

“I am completely at Madame’s service. " 

“Don’t make any rash announcements I you 
ought to mistrust me profoundly. Admit at 
least that my conduct has been highly irregu- 
lar." 

‘^Well, I " 

“The fact is," broke in the woman, in a 
serious tone, “I have long wished to make 
your acquaintance. The opportunity arrived 
for me to do you a service, unknown to your- 
self, and in doing it I killed two birds with 
one stone : I took the part of Captain Aubyn 
Goddard in a diplomatic war, and made his 
acquaintance into the bargain. All is fair, you 
know, in war.’’ 

^ “And in love !’’ concluded Goddard, with a 
nervous laugh. 


Bella-Demoilia, 


69 


'^Exactly,” replied the Baroness Altdorff, 
with a slight blush, “but at present the former 
alone engrosses our attention. But come ; 
breakfast is ready. Will you follow me ? Un- 
like most women who make gentlemen's ac- 
quaintances under romantic circumstances, I 
am ravenously hungry." 

She led the way into the dining-room, where 
a breakfast was served in perfect taste but su- 
preme simplicity. 

“At least you will begin," said Goddard, as 
he seated himself, “ by giving me a few words 
of explanation. First, how did you know my 
name ? and, second, did you send me the 
ticket for yesterday s ball ?" 

“I know your name, for in the society of 
Vienna not to know Captain Aubyn Goddard, 
of Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service, is to ar- 
gue one’s self unknown. It was I who sent 
you the ticket for last night's ball, for reasons 
that I will explain to you presently. I am 
very much interested in the questions that have 
brought you to Vienna four times in as many 
months, and chance favored me last night in 
bringing about a meeting to which I have long 
looked forward." 

She spoke with charming frankness, looking 
him straight in the eyes, and it was with a, to 


70 


Bella- Demon ia. 


him, altogether new sensation that he replied, 
with a little inclination, — 

‘^Whatever may have been your motive, 
baroness, believe me, I congratulate myself, 
more profoundly than I can say on so short an 
acquaintance, on the chance that has thrown 
us together — at last/' 

A ring of intense earnestness had come into 
his voice as he answered, returning her gaze. 
The woman flushed perceptibly as she turned 
the conversation : 

Your profession must be a strangely inter- 
esting one. You are so much behind the 
scenes. The Powers will unite in Conference 
about December or January, will they not ?" 

He glanced at her keenly. I cannot tell," 
replied he, cautiously, '' but it looks like it at 
present. " 

‘‘It seems so strange to me that England 
should submit so calmly to the dictation of 
Russia. I should have thought that your gov- 
ernment would have despatched a fleet to the 
Levant. " 

“ That would not take place unless the Con- 
ference should prove abortive." 

“Ah! then the step is already considered?" 

“I do not know," replied Goddard, shortly, 
as he suddenly perceived -that he -had been led 
into an impdftant di^clb^ure. Then be added. 


Bella-Denionia, 


71 


You seem vastly interested in European po- 
litics. Ladies do not usually trouble about 
such matters.'' 

I adore them, " replied the baroness, 
with a laugh ; ^'but it annoys me when I see 
your English interests calmly flung into the lap 
of GortschakofF by your Mr. Gladstone. " 

‘‘Mr. Gladstone will have nothing to do 
with it," replied Goddard, dryly. “The en- 
tertainment of 1871 will not be repeated, I can 
assure you. So long as Lord Beaconsfield 
lives, you may be sure that, the Pruth will bound 
Russia on the southwest, and Batoum and 
Constantinople will not become Russian mili- 
tary seaports." He spoke with quick indigna- 
tion, for Goddard was of the true Tory faith, 
and the light tone of this foreign woman stun^ 
him in a sensitive place. The Baroness Alt- 
dorff plunged her eyes deep into his, and 
leaned forward as she replied, — 

“That is how I like to hear a man talk. 
That is the substance of your despatches, on 
this mission T 

Goddard was about to lie promptly in ex- 
pressing his ignorance, but something in the 
woman's look made his heart leap into his 
throat, and he answered nothing, as the color 
rose to the rdots of his hair. ' ^ ' 


7 ^ 


Bella-Deinonia. 


‘‘That is right/' she said, softly. I could 
not imagine you lying to me." 

“ No," answered the man, shortly : “I can- 
not lie to you. " 

The Baroness Altdorff rose. 

“Let us go into the drawing-room," she 
said, with a sudden change of manner. “We 
have yet an hour before you need start. At 
half-past three my coupe will take you to the 
P'oreign Office, and thence to the station. 
Will you oblige me by sending my man from 
the Office to settle your bill and bring your 
luggage from your hotel .? I do not want you 
to return." 

“Really, I feel ashamed to take advantage 
— " began Goddard. 

“Promise me! promise me I" she inter- 
rupted, eagerly. 

“ Certainly, it shall be as you wish. But, in 
heaven's name, give me some explanation of 
all this mystery." 

‘.‘ Very well," replied she “I will. I need 
not tell Captain Goddard that . diplomacy in 
Russia sticks at nothing. I happened to have 
learnt that an effort would be made to detain 
you in Vienna by the Russian agents there. 
You were to be summoned from your hotel 
last night. They laid their plans well. I sent 
you the ticket to insure your absence, and 


Bella-Demonia. 


73 


came myself to the ball to see that you were 
safely there. The hunchback whom you saw 
persecuting me adopted that course to mix you 
up in a most unpleasant esclandre. He knew 
that an English gentleman would not suifer an 
unprotected woman to be insulted in his pre- 
sence. It is needless to say that he was a po- 
litical spy. Had we left the opera-house by 
the main entrance you would have found your- 
self this morning in a duel or a police court. 
It was necessary to hide you to-day. I thought 
of this place as we sought my carriage. They 
have watched for you at your hotel all day. 
Remember, you have promised not to return 
there with your despatches.'' 

‘^Do you think I am going to run away 
from the creature," said Goddard, indignantly. 

^‘It is your duty to guard your despatches," 
answered the woman, calmly. 

You are right," answered he, simply, after 
a pause. 

The , conversation took another turn. Her 
interest drew from Goddard — almost, I was 
going to say, a story of his life, and when the 
clock struck half-past three it was almost with 
a start that ‘he recalled himself to tlie present. 

It was the Baroness AltdorlT who cut the 
conversation short. ^Ht is time for you to 
go, " she said. ‘ ' I am sorry. " ' • 


74 


Bella-Demonia, 


'‘^And I too, baroness,’’ replied Goddard. 
‘G have not half expressed to you my gratitude 
for all you have done for me, still less for these 
charming hours with you.” 

''Then you forgive my plot against your 
liberty?” 

"Yes,” replied he, boldly. "All is fair, as 
we said, in love and war, and — ^and both are 
here.” 

The Baroness Altdorff crimsoned despite 
herself. 

"Good-by,” said she, holding out her hand 
again. 

"Not good-by, I trust,” pleaded he, as he 
held the delicate white hand in his. They had 
reached the front door, where the presence of 
the grave butler holding open the door of the 
coup6 which stood in readiness placed a re- 
straint upon the wild declaration he was 
tempted to pour out to her. "Not good-by, 
baroness, but au revoir. Is it not so ? ” And 
he leaned forward as h.e pressed the taper 
fingers. 

"I hope so, — believe me,” replied she, and 
her pallor intensified. 

"Then I go not altogether m despair,” said 
Goddard, gayly, as he descended the steps. 

As he took his seat in the carriage he turned 
to wher'e she stood on the veranda, 


Bella-Demonia, 


75 


I forgot ! '' he exclaimed. You said you 
would tell me where we met before to-day. 
Where was it ” 

At the ball last night.'* 

The servant slammed the door, and the 
carriage whirled off down the drive. As it 
turned out of the gate, Goddard looked hastily 
out of the window. The windows of the Villa 
Altdorff were once more shuttered as they had 
been in the morning. No smoke rose from 
the chimneys. All signs of human habitation 
had disappeared. 

The Villa Altdorff seemed deserted ! 

Captain the Honorable Aubyn Goddard 
flung himself back on the cushions of the 
coup6. 

"‘By Jove ! " he exclaimed, “this carriage is 
real enough, or I should believe the whole 
thing was a dream." 

^ 5|e s|c ^ 

Whilst he transacted his business at the 
Foreign Office,, the coupd went to: bis hotel for 
his luggage. 

The servant brought back word that two 
gentlemen refusing to give their names had 
been waiting for him since mid-day/. . ; T 

They were waiting still. . . • r j ‘ f 


76 


Bclla-Deinonia, 


CHAPTER III. 

THE POWER BEHIND THE THRONE. 

The police system of Russia is divided into 
three sections, the First Section, consisting of 
the ordinary patrol of gendarmerie, the Second 
Section, consisting of what are called the 
Political Police, originally instituted by the 
Tzar Nicholas to control corruption among 
officials, but now, and at the time of which I 
write, a vast organization having its representa- 
tives in almost every city of the world, and the 
hated and dreaded Third Section, of Secret 
Police, having its spies in every house, in every 
restaurant, in every public place, almost in 
every family. The three are united under one 
head, and during the crisis of 1876-77 that 
head had, as may be supposed, more than 
enough to occupy it. 

One of the largest suites in the Public Offices 
of Petersburg is devoted to the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs. Adjoining it is the Ministry 
of the Interior. Connecting the two are two 
small rooms, one an inner room opening upon 
the vestibule, the other looking out upon the 


Bella-Demonia, 


77 


Newski Prospect. These two rooms are de- 
voted to the use of the Chief of Police — ‘‘The 
White Terror/' as he is called — and his per- 
sonal staff, consisting of a private and two 
ministerial secretaries. 

In the outer room sat Prince Schouloff, the 
Chief of Police, and the position he occupied 
between the two principal Ministries indicated 
his importance in the affairs of the Empire. 

No one who saw him seated in his great 
leather-covered chair before his table could fail 
to be impressed with the personality of the man. 
Though he sits huddled up, as it were, there 
can be no mistaking the massive proportions 
of the man : his hand alone, as it lies on the 
table before him, gives overwhelming evidence 
of his tremendous physical strength. He is a 
comparatively young man, — not more than 
forty years old, — despite the fact that his closely- 
cut hair is almost snow-white, and that the 
clearly-traced lines round his eyes and mouth 
give evidence of years of anxiety, if not of 
physical suffering. In startling contrast to his 
white hair are his thick eyebrows and elabor- 
ately pointed mustache, which are of the 
intensest black. At this moment his keen gray 
eyes look straight before him from beneath the 
heavy brows, and his face wears the expression 


78 


Bella-Demonia, 


habitual to it in repose, — one of concentrated 
watchfulness. 

Before him — it is morning — lies a heap of 
letters, which for the past half-hour has been 
slowly diminishing as he opens one after an- 
other, and, after making a note upon each in 
pencil, for the direction of the secretaries, lay^ 
them in two heaps, one to the right of the pile 
for the political secretaries, the other to the 
left for future private reference. At this mo- 
ment the morning task of looking through the 
mail has been arrested, — arrested by the paper 
that he holds in the hand that lies on the desk 
before him. He is not looking at it. It would 
be useless, for it is not of an ordinary kind. 
It is written on a large square sheet of thin 
blue paper ; in the upper left-hand corner, 
arranged within a diamond, appears the follow- 
ing design, in Greek capitals : 



Incomprehensible to the uninitiated. Prince 
Schouloff reads within the lozenge the word 


Bella-Devionia, 


79 


' ‘ Bella-Demonia. A. H. 2. R. ", and, having 
progressed thus far, he has laid down the paper 
and is plunged in thought. The letter is in 
cipher and is sealed to him until the arrival of 
his private secretary, who has the custody of 
the key to the enigma. 

He has not long to wait. A slight noise 
behind him causes him to turn his head. A 
young man has entered the room, and has 
silently taken his seat at a smaller desk in the 
corner. . ^ 

‘‘Ah, Dmitri Dmitrievitch, is that you.?^ I 
am waiting for you. ’’ 

“A despatch from Bella-Demonia? " 

“Yes. Have you your dial?" 

“Here it is. Excellency." 

“Set it: A.H.2.R." 

“ It is done." 

^ “Read me this." And the Chief of Police 
hands the document to his private secretary, 
and turns once more to the unopened letters 
before him. For half an hour no sound breaks 
the silence, save the slight squeak of the cipher- 
dial, as, letter by letter, the young man in- 
terprets the despatch.* 


*BELLA-DEMONIA’S CIPHER-DIAL. 


The cipher-dial referred to in the text, the original 
of which is in my possession, is an instrument of great 


BeiliUDeinoji ia . 




At the end of that time the secretary rises and 
and lays before his chief a paper on which ap- 
pears the following, in French : 


interest and ingenuity, and an explanatory note may 
not be out of place at this point. It is a mode of 
cipher-construction that practically defies solution, like 
a combination-lock, and was used by the staff in com- 
mand of the forces in Asia Minor during the Turko- 
Russian War, on whose main outlines the story of 
Bella-Demonia has been constructed. 

All 4 ;hat is necessary, for two people who wish to 
communicate in cryptograph by its means, to bear in 
mind is a key or combination, such as is used by Bella- 
Demonia in the text, — to wit, A.H. 2 .R. 

The instrument consists of an outer dial, AA', out 
of which a circular chamber has been cut which re- 
ceives a smaller dial, BB', which falls into its place so 
as to be level with the raised rim of the dial AA'. It 
is further kept in place by a little pin, D, which falls 
into a hole in the centre of the dial AA', as at E. The 
dial BB' may be rotated in the dial A A' by means of 
the milled knob C. The alphabet and a few numerals 
are engraved round the edges of the dials, as seen in 
the illustration. 

Now, supposing Bella-Demonia to be writing the de- 
spatch referred to above, on the combination A.H.2 R. 
She sets the dial as in the illustration. The H of the 
inner circle falls under the A of the outer. The “ 2R’^ 
means that the dial BB' must be rotated two spaces 
to the right, to find each letter in the cryptograph 
message. iR” would mean, one-space to the right ; 
“ 3 L,” three to the left, and so on. 


Bella-Demonia. 


8l 


Vienna, 25th August, 1S76. 
‘^Captain the Honorable Aubyn Goddard, 
Twentieth Hussars, especially detailed Queen’s 

We will assume that Bella-Demonia wishes to write 
her own name on the formula A.H.2.R. The dial is 
set as in the illustration. 



She turns the dial BB' to the right, so as to find the 
second space from the B in the upper or outer circle 
(of the dial AA’). It will be found that the letter 
that falls under B is G. G, therefore, is the first 
letter. Now to find the equivalent of the second, E ; 
without moving the dials she finds E in the outer 
circle, turns the dial BB' two spaces to the right, and 
finds the letter H has come under the E. H is there- 
fore the second letter of the word Bella-Demonia, 



82 


Bella-Demonia, 


Messenger for Oriental affairs. Age about 34. 
Single. English gentleman in every sense of 

Next the L. L is found on the outer dial, the inner 
is revolved two spaces, and M is the letter found. 
Now for the second L. The dial BB' is once more 
shifted two to the right, and the letter K represents 
the second L. Following the rule, and always turning 
the dial two Spaces to the right, A is found on the 
outer and in turn Z on the inner circle, so that the 
letters GHMKZ represent the word BELLA; and, 
proceeding in the same way, DEMONIA is represented 
in cryptograph by the letters 2 .Z.D.D. A.V.L. 

BELLADEM0NIA=GHMKZ2ZDDAVL. 

Now, Prince Schouloff receives the letters Ghmkz2- 
zddavl, and to find out what they. mean sets"/^?V dial 
A.H.2. R., — i,e., with the A of the dial AA' over the 
H of the dial BB'. 

In readings the above process is reversed only in the 
fact that the letter to be interpreted is sought on the 
inner circle (of the dial BB'). He finds G on the dial 
\ BB', rotates it two spaces to the right, and finds over 
it on the dial AA', the letter B. Next he rotates the 
H on BB', and finds over it E on A A'. The M on 
BB' rotated two spaces gives him L on A A' ; and K 
on BB' rotated two spaces gives him a second L. Z 
treated the same way gives A on A A,' and thus out of 
“ Ghmkz” the first half “ Bella” is produced, and in 
the same way the whole word, and the whole despatch. 

The great point to be noted is that by this means 
the same letter never means the same thing twice, so 
that the principal means of deciphering cryptograms — 
i.e., the observation of the most recurrent letters and 
substituting for them the commonest vowels and con- 


Bella-Demonia, 


83 


the word. Unapproachable by ordinary means. 
Passed through Vienna August 15 and 16, bear- 
ing despatches for Foreign Office. 

‘‘In the event of Conference, England will 
maintain armed neutrality. In the event of 
Russia taking meditated action, will occupy the 
Bosphorus. Integrity of Ottoman Empire will 
be supported : particular attention to Batoum 
and Trebizonde. No further details. 

“Leave for Petersburg to-night. 

‘ ‘ Bella-Demonia. ” 

“H’m!’' ejaculated the Chief of Police, as 
he carefully folded the cipher message and its 
translation and placed them in his pocket-book, 
“This is important. ‘English gentleman. Un- 
approachable by ordinary means. No further 

sonants — is destroyed. Without ever going more 
than two spaces to the right or left, 4010 different 
combinations can be formed; whilst if the persons in 
possession of the dials choose to read upward for 
writing and downward for reading, instead of as above 
downward for writing and upward for reading, 16,- 
080,100 combinations can be formed, and it is that 
number of chances to one againgt anybody but the 
right person hitting on the formula. 

Of course any arrangement of the letters of the 
alphabet, and any number of numerals, omitting the i 
and the o, can be engraved on the two dials, so long 
as they coincide exactly with each other. 

Selina Dolaro. 


84 Bella-Demonia, 

details/ I don’t like that. Bella-Demonia 
does not usually stop half-way in her inquiries. 
She is coming here. That is well, and I shall 
meet this marvellous woman at last !” 

And, the current of his .thoughts evidently 
changed by the receipt of the despatch, he 
altered some of the notes on the letters before 
him, and as one of the secretaries took away 
the bundle for distribution he said to him, — 

^‘Inform the secretary of His Excellency the 
Minister of War that Prince Schouloff will w'ait 
upon his Chief in an hour’s time.” 

When this latter had left the room, the prince 
turned to Dmitri Dmitrievitch Keratieff, his 
private secretary, and remarked, — 

''You are sure that you never heard your 
father, Dmitri Keratieff, refer by name to this 
Baroness Altdorff, — 'Bella-Demonia,’ as they 
call her?” 

"Never, Excellency. After the attempt upon 
the life of His Majesty in which my father re- 
ceived his death-wound, he spoke to me of a 
woman who possessed his cipher dial, but 
never mentioned her name. I was very young 
then.” 

At the private secretary’s words Prince Schou- 
loff’s face clouded. The attempted assassina- 
tion of the Tzar in which the late Chief of 
Police lost his life was a subject which the 


Bella-Denionia. 


8s 


present Chief— for state reasons, he said — never 
allowed to be mentioned in his presence. 
However, his private secretary, as son of his 
predecessor, and Prince Schouloffs especial 
protege, considered himself a privileged person. 

I At the time of his father s death Dmitri Dmitrie- 
vitch Keratieff had been one of the junior clerks 
in the Department of Police, and when his 
father met his death in the abortive attempt of 
the followers of Alexis Dorski, Prince Schou- 
lofF, who came to Petersburg to take the direc- 
tion of the police, sought out his predecessor s 
son and appointed him his confidential secre- 
tary. Dorski had disappeared, — he was re- 
ported killed at Odessa soon after, — and his 
society had been broken up. From that mo- 
ment his conspiracy had been a forbidden sub- 
ject, like many others, in the Department of 
Police. 

Now, however, the Chief did not silence his 
secretary, but remarked, with the air of a man 
who dimly recalls a half-forgotten incident, — 

'' How did he refer to her?’' 

“Though it was eight years ago, I remem- 
ber his words as if they had been spoken yester- 
day. ^Dmitri,' he said, ‘you are too young 
now to understand the workings of the section 
in which you are a subordinate; but some day 
you may be called to a position of trust therein. 


86 


Bella-Demonia, 


There exists a duplicate of the cipher-dial with 
which I construct my political correspondence. 
Should ever a woman communicate with ygu 
by its means, lay the matter at once before 
your Chief, and tell him that I, Dmitri Kera- 
tieff, left for him the injunction that she was to 
be considered. Trust her utterly : the welfare 
of the Holy Russian Empire is in her heart, ' 
and may be in her hands.' I believe this Bella- 
Demonia to be the woman. Excellency, for my 
father would never have intrusted his cipher- 
dial to any one who would either duplicate or 
misuse it." 

'H think you are right," returned Schouloff, 
as he reconcentrated his attention upon the 
papers before him. 

That day he devoted to important interviews 
with the Ministers of War and of Foreign 
Affairs, and at the closing of the office at four 
o'clock another step, and an important one, 
had been taken in the policy that was to event- 
uate in the war of 1877. 

The office was closed. The secretaries had 
gone, a servant had placed a reading-lamp 
upon his table, and Prince Schouloff was alone. 

He*stretched his arms above his head in the 
manner of a man concluding his work or turn- 
ing to some lighter employment. No one look- 
ing at him as he sat, idly for the moment look- 


Bella-Demon ia. 


87 


ing out over the Prospect that teemed with life 
below him, would have dreamed that the hard, 
ascetic-looking man, with ^‘diplomacy’' written 
on every line of his face, the man whose word 
could at any moment send families to Siberia 
with a wolf s-passport,'' or plunge the Cabinet 
in international complications, had been, eight 
years before we see him in the office of the ' 
Police — Alexis Dorski, the Nihilist ! 

It was he. But of this circumstance only 
two living souls were aware, and those were 
Prince Schouloff himself — and in after-years, 
people who know have said, One other. 


88 


Bella-Demonia, 


CHAPTER IV. 

BELLA-DEMONIA. 

Prince Schouloff rose, and, walking to the 
window, looked out over the Prospect of Alex- 
ander Newski, seeking a momentary relief from 
the cramped position to which he had been 
constrained by his work during the hours of 
toil. For a few minutes he stood idly watch- 
ing the droschkies and troikas that crossed and 
recrossed one another, listening to the jangle of 
their bells and to the vague murmur of the 
isvoshtshiks' voices as they apostrophized and 
harangued their ponies, after the manner of 
their class. Then he drew down the blinds to 
shut out the remainder of the already dying 
daylight, and seated himself once more at his 
bureau. 

From a carefully-locked drawer he took a 
small bundle of folded blue sheets, and placed 
at the bottom thereof ‘‘Bella-DemoniaV de- 
spatch of the morning, and was about to re- 
place the bundle, when a second thought struck 
him, and he unfolded them all in turn, running 
his eyes rapidly over their contents as he did 


Bella- Demonia. 


89 


so. All the originals were in cipher, but the 
translation was attached to each in his secre- 
tary's handwriting. 

‘‘This is a most marvellous woman," solilo- 
quized he, as he concluded his cursory exami- 
nation of the bundle. I wonder how she is 
to be accounted for. Among all the political 
agents of the Russian administration, of her 
alone nothing is known; as a rule, the Holy 
Empire is well informed as to the antecedents 
of its — spies; but in the case of this woman it 
is different. Who is she } — or, rather, who was 
she.? Who is — or was — the Baron Altdorff.? 
I have sent Dmitri Keratieff in turn to London, 
Berlin, Paris, Vienna, in search of information 
regarding her. I have inquired into all her 
aliases in vain: everywhere we are met and 
assisted by her work, but by the woman her- 
self — never. Well, well, notwithstanding the 
mystery, I would trust her where I would not 
trust Dmitri Keratieff himself. The treasury 
of the Department has been at her service for 
five years. A mere adventuress — my English 
agent Emily Dashton, for instance — in her 
position would long ago have realized a mil- 
lion or so of roubles and disappeared. But 
Bella-Demonia is true to her trust under all 
circumstances: her motive, whatever it be. 


90 


Bella-Demon ia. 


must be a strong one, and in due time no 
doubt she will elect to present herself. She 
says in this last despatch that she is coming 
here: when will she arrive? By St. Nicholas ! 
I — I, Schouloff, confess that I am curious — 
nay, anxious — to see her. — What is it?’' 

The concluding words of his soliloquy were 
addressed to the dvornik of the office, who had 
entered the room after a premonitory knock. 

“A lady,” replied the dvornik, ^‘desires to 
speak with your Excellency.” And he handed 
to the prince a card on which was engraved 
‘‘The Countess Laroche, Avenue de Jena, 
Paris,” and in pencil had been added, in Rus- 
sian, “Hotel d’Europe , — Evropeiskaya Goss-- 
tinnitza. ” 

“You told her that the office was closed?” 

“Yes, Excellency, but she insisted that I 
should inquire if you were still here.” 

“ Did she state her business?” 

“No, Excellency: she said only that she had 
just arrived from Vienna.” 

“From Vienna? Ah! Admit her, and 
order two of the guard to station in the secre- 
taries’ office, before she comes through it.” 

Prince Schouloff had twice narrowly escaped 
assassination in this very room, and was pre- 
pared for emergencies. 


Bella-Dernonia, 


91 


Two minutes later a woman entered the 
room. She stood for a moment at the door, 
and said, interrogatively, — 

‘•Prince SchoulofFi^’' 

“I am he,'’ returned Schouloff, scrutinizing 
her narrowly. “Be seated, sodaini.” He 
spoke in Russian, and his visitor answered in 
the same language: 

“ I see you have placed your Cossacks in 
the anteroom. I should have saved you the 
trouble by announcing myself as the Baroness 
Altdorff. It suits me, however, to be the 
Countess Laroche, travelling for her health: so 
I gave to the dvornik the name by which I am 
to be known so long as I remain in Peters- 
burg." There was a simple, commanding 
dignity in her words as she spoke, seating her- 
self the while in the chair indicated, opposite 
to the Chief of Police. Prince Schouloff had 
remained standing. 

“ Bella-Demonia !" he said, simply. 

“ I am she.” 

Without another word, he went to the door, 
and called out, ‘ ‘ Choroskho ! Ogon r ( ‘ ‘ All 
right ! Go away !”) and the footsteps of the 
two soldiers were heard retiring down the cor- 
ridor. Schouloff returned, and seating himself 
in the great leather-covered chair, remarked, — 


92 


Bella-Demonia, 


‘‘I will not waste time in trivial compli- 
ments. I can only say that it affords me a 
profound satisfaction to meet Bella-Demonia 
face to face. You will explain the object of 
this visit in your own words and at your own 
time.'' 

It was time for us to meet. The negotia- 
tions at Vienna are practically closed. You 
will find that Bismarck and Andrassy are acting 
together, have done so from the first, and will 
do so to the end. The policy of Great Britain 
is cut and dried. Their plans are formed. It 
is time to form ours." 

^^Ours.?" 

Yes, — yours and mine.'' 

Schouloff thought for a moment. TTien he 
said, — 

Madame von Altdorff, let us understand 
each other from the commencement — " 

'' Countess Laroche, if you please, "corrected 
she. 

“Very good, — Countess Laroche. You are 
staying at the Hotel d'Europe. Have you a 
passport.? — but of course you have." 

“I have five," returned she, simply. 

“ I beg your pardon !" 

“Here they are," said she, taking a thin 
packet from the bosom of her dress. “Two 
of them are, as you see, countersigned by your- 


Bella-Demonia. 


93 


self. Here is that of the Countess Laroche, 
dated, issued, and visa-ed in Paris ; these are 
respectively those of Mrs. Damian, issued and 
visa-ed in London ; of the Baroness Altdorff, 
signed by yourself in Berlin ; of the Baroness 
Altdorff, similarly signed, in Vienna; and of 
Madame Raczewitz, issued, and so forth, in 
Constantinople.'' 

The Chief of Police seemed thunderstruck. 

Madame," said he, ^‘in two minutes you 
have impressed me as I have never been im- 
pressed before. May I ask your nationality ? 
Your Russian is perfect, but foreign ; your 
French is the same." 

‘‘ I am cosmopolitan. 1 am in turn English, 
French, German, Russian, and, what is most 
to our present purpose, Roumeliote, but al- 
ways and everywhere Bella-Demonia. Do I 
make myself clear ?" 

‘‘To me — perfectly. Your identity estab- 
lished, pray consider the Department of Police 
at your service. And now, what have you to 
say ?" 

“More than can be said now. One ques- 
tion, however, before we terminate this inter- 
view. When do we declare war?" 

Schouloff started, despite his training, despite 
himself 

“War !" he echoed. 


94 


Bella-Demoma. 


^^Yes, — with Turkey.” 

For reply the Chief leaned forward and raised 
the shade from the lamp, flooding the room 
with light. He fixed his eyes on Bella-Demo- 
nia's face. She returned his gaze unflinchingly. 
She was dressed from head to foot in some 
black-beaded material, with here and there a 
flash of crimson, in a lining, a ribbon, or a 
feather. The Chief was apparently satisfied 
with his scrutiny. 

‘‘When the Porte shall have rejected the 
conditions presented by the Conference.” 

‘ ‘ They will not be of a nature that the Porte 
can accept T 

A moment’s pause, and then Schouloff an- 
swered, shortly, — 

“No !” 

“Good! That is enough for to-day. To- 
-morrow I will lay niy plans before you. Is it 
agreed ?” 

“Perfectly.” 

Ten minutes later Prince Schouloff sat alone 
in his sanctum, buried in his complicated re- 
flections. 


95 


Bella-Demonia, 


CHAPTER V. 

A PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. 

On the following afternoon, when the secre- 
taries had gone and the offices had been closed 
to the w^orld, as the bells of the neighboring 
Cathedral of St. Isaac's tolled the hour of five, 
Prince Schouloff sat once more in his sanctum, 
in conference with the Baroness Altdorffi 

“As I understand the position," Bella-De- 
monia was saying, “our plans stand thus. The 
conditions laid before the Ottoman Cabinet 
will be of a nature that will render their accept- 
ance impossible. When this is an accomplished 
fact, and the Powers have protested by protocol, 
Russia will cross the Pruth, and enter Asia, 
Minor by Batoum or Kars without further 
notice. " 

“ Exactly." 

“What opposition shall we meet.?" 

“ In Europe, little or none. Roumania will 
join our cause, and probably Bulgaria. In 
Asia we shall probably have difficulty with 
Moukhtar Pasha." 


9 ^ 


BcUa-Deinonici. 


'^And where shall we station our political 
observatory V 

'‘Probably at Odessa/' 

"That is wrong. It is too far from Stam- 
boiil. 

"Has Bella-Demonia anything better to 
suggest ?" 

" Certainly, or she would not be here. Give 
me a map of the country." 

Schouloff laid a chart of the Balkan Peninsula 
on the table, and together they bent over the 
sheet, the woman demonstrating with her finger 
as she spoke quickly and decisively, in the 
tones of one stating a case wdth which he is 
entirely familiar: 

" Immediately on the declaration of war, 
long before wx reach the Danube, the Buda- 
Pesth, Giurgevo, and Varna route to Constan- 
tinople will be closed. The ports of the Black 
Sea will be blockaded, the sea route from any 
other port will be impracticable. The only 
line of communication between the Powers and 
the Porte, therefore, whll be across the Balkans 
by w'ay of the Shipka Pass. To reach this 
point, messengers must pass through Belgrade, 
Widin, and possibly Plevna. From Shipka 
they must reach Stamboul by Eski Saghra and 
Adrianople. On the road between the two lies 
the village of Deve-kiui. At that village Ma- 


Bella-Demonia. 


97 


dame Helen Raczewitz, a Roumeliote lady, 
must take a hunting-villa at once. By the lime 
our armies cross the Pruth she will be firmly 
established there, and his Excellency Prince 
SchoulofF will always be a welcome visitor. ” 

As she ceased she looked up into Schouloff s 
face to mark the effect of her words. 

“ Then you propose — said he. 

“To found a political observatory, away 
from large cities or military centres, though 
within a certain radius of Eski Saghra, — an 
observatory, however, on the inevitable line of 
route between Stamboul and Europe.’' 

“But between this and next year I have 
important duties that call me to Paris and 
London. I could not occupy the chateau of 
which you speak. " 

‘ ‘ But I could. I propose to be there within 
a month.” 

“You know the state of a civilized country 
on the first outbreak of a war and before mili- 
tary control is established. Do you fully 
realize what would be the condition of affairs 
in Bulgaria .? The good Gladstone was nearer 
the truth than is his wont in his brochure on 
Batak. ” 

Bella-Demonia's lip curled scornfully. 

“Do you think,” said she, “that a woman 
who has lived the life of Bella-Demonia is 


98 


Bella-Demo7iia, 


likely to flinch at the thought of a sojourn in a 
country notoriously Russophile ? Besides, in- 
quire at Philippopolis and Sofia concerning 
Madame Raczewitz : you will be satisfied, I 
think, that I am safe among the Balkans/' 

Prince SchoulofF had resumed his seat, and 
now remained silent for a few moments, watch 
ing the woman opposite him. 

‘‘Madame von Altdorff," said he, at length, 
“I do not ask a confidence which apparently 
you are desirous of withholding, but it is obvi- 
ous that it must have been some terrible cata- 
clysm in your life that plunged you into the 
whirlpool of political intrigue." 

“A cataclysm indeed ! — one that shattered 
every womanly feeling within me ; one that 
turned my life into one protracted longing for 
excitement and distraction. When, on the 
\ death of Dmitri Keratieff at the hands of Alexis 
Dorski's band, you took his place in the coun- 
cils of the nation, a month of keen observation 
of your methods satisfied me that under your 
chieftainship the office of political agent would 
be no sinecure. I wrote to you ; you gave 
me my first commission, and in an hour my 
womanhood, my past, was laid aside, — in a 
word, I became — Bella-Demonia ! " 

“I would that we had met sooner, baroness. 
With such a partner as yourself, there is no 


Bella-Demonia, 


99 


height to which an ambitious man might not 
] aspire/' 

' She looked at him for an instant as if in 
alarm. Then, resuming the cold, hard tone 
that was natural to her, she said, — 

It is just as well that we did not meet then, 
for I am incapable of aught but hate. You 
understand me } ” 

‘‘Perfectly," replied Schouloff. And the 
conversation changed. 

A fortnight later the ‘ ‘ plan of campaign " 
was settled. Day after day the Chief of Police 
had been closeted with the Baroness Altdorff, 
and nothing remained to be discussed, of the 
policy of the Chief and his lieuienante, “The 
Countess Laroche" was preparing for her de- 
parture ; and in two days' time Prince Schouloff 
would have left Petersburg for Paris en route 
for London. 

They sat, as usual, in the bureau of the 
Department of Police, and Bella- Demonia had 
just folded up her last sheet of notes, written 
in the cipher under which we first made her 
acquaintance. “So!" she said, “all is 
finished." 

“Almost," replied Schouloff. 

“How.? almost.? Have you anything else 
to say ? " 


106 


Bella-Demonia. 


^ ^ Yes. Give me your attention, if you please, 
for a few moments longer, baroness : what re- 
mains to be said is not unimportant.'' He 
paused for a moment, as if searching for words : 
then he resumed. ‘‘You have never en- 
lightened me, baroness, on the subject of your 
past, and for my part I have no desire to be 
enlightened. I only know that you are incom- 
parable as you are incomprehensible ; I only 
know that, whatever your birth may have been, 
you would add lustre to any name that you 
would deign to adopt. The family of Schouloff 
is second to none in the Russian Empire, and 
since before our history began the Schouloffs 
have ranked side by side with the Romanoffs, 
the Dolgouroukis, and the Khristovs. This 
name, in all humility, I offer to you. Will 
you be my wife } " 

Bella-Demonia had risen and walked to the 
window. 

There, she turned and faced Schouloff, who 
sat, nervously, — for him — twisting an end of 
his mustache. 

“Prince Schouloff," said she, “I regret 
from the bottom of my soul that you should 
have honored me with this proposition. I can 
never be more to you than I am now. I know 
that I am in your power, I have expressed my 
willingness to place myself still further in your 


Bella-Demonia, 


lOI 


hands, and I have no fear for the result. But 
more than your adjutant I can never be. Let 
us forget this scene, and resume our old posi^ 
tions with regard to each other. I can never 
be your wife.'' 

! A sharp contraction passed across the man's 
features, but he regained his old icy composure 
as he replied, — 

“I know you too well to urge my suit. 
Some day, I hope, however, that you may 
consider your decision. Should that day evej 
arrive, I leave it in your hands to tell me of it. 
Meanwhile I am always your obedient servant. 

She inclined her head in silence. 

think there is no more to be said, "he re- 
sumed. ‘ ‘ So, au revoir. Early in the year I 
will join you in our Bulgarian observatory." 

‘‘Good," she replied, simply. I shall look 
forward to your coming. Au revoir /" 


BOOK II. 


CHAPTER 1. 

A COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND MEANS. 

'^But, my dear girl, for heaven's sake be 
reasonable. How the deuce do you suppose 
I can get ten thousand pounds V 
How should I know ?" 

“Very well, then : don't be absurd." 

And Major Homer Carteret aixd Mrs. Brad- 
ley Dashton sat looking at each other as if 
hoping to derive inspiration from each other s 
ingenuous countenances. 

They were excellently well matched, this 
brother and sister ; he was a gentlemanly ad- 
venturer, and she was a garrison hack. This 
is perhaps a trifle crude. Let us explain. 

Major Homer Carteret was "^‘society runner" 
for a syndicate of Oriental gentlemen who pro- 
moted companies in the far-Eastern city. His 
was the tdsk of snaring ornamental directors 
with high-sounding titles, and moneyed young- 
sters with plethoric bank-accounts; no one in the 


Bella-Demonia. 


103 


business had so keen a scent or so sure a hand, 
no one was so innocent a (professional) victim 
or so enthusiastic a (professional) supporter as 
Major Homer Carteret, and, though Dick Saville 
and other ribald spirits who had suffered by and 
with him averred that his military commission 
was one in the Salvation Army, there was no 
denying that, diplomatic and deprecating to 
the last degree. Major Carteret was a most use- 
ful member of the society which for a consider- 
ation he adorned. 

To explain yet further, the major owed his 
rank to some obscure Indian regiment, and 
according to his own account had seen much 
service in the Empire ; but a majority in a 
Sikh regiment is not a lucrative post, nor is it 
one in which the undoubted talents of the ma- 
jor found full scope, and he took the first op- 
portunity to seek the mother-country as the 
pioneer of a queer gold-mining company, and, 
having found the work profitable and conge- 
nial, realized that this was his proper sphere, 
and settled in London, where his fame spread 
among wealthy but unpresentable financiers, 
as purveyor of directors and social drummer’^ 
for the stocks of his employers. His business 
found an able co-operator in the person of his 
sister, when she too forsook her all — to-wit, 
all the officers in Bengal — and established her^ 


104 


Bella-Demon ia. 


self in the cosey little house in Mayfair where 
we find her sitting on this bright November 
morning, in conference with Major Homer 
Carteret. 

Their tactics were such as to compel the ad^ 
miration of all who suffered by them. The 
major and his sister were “devilish good feb 
lows,'’ both of them : did any gilded youth 
desire to meet any particular damsel en peiii 
comite, Mrs. Dashton could always be depended 
upon to give a little dinner, at which she and 
her brother counted for little save as hosts. 
During dinner Mrs. Dashton, with some ex- 
cuse or apology for talking shop, would deftly 
draw from the major a few enthusiastic words 
regarding his last “investment;’' over the wine 
and the first cigar the major gen^xally managed 
to re-introduce the subject, and the gilded 
youth, as a rule, bit at the bait and “went a 
hundred " in company with the major, “just 
for fun. " The company generally turned out 
to be one of unlimited liability, and in due 
season burst with more or less explosive force, 
and the major when reproached would express 
the most awful consternation, but “as a friend 
of the directors" would manage to limit the 
gilded youth's liability to a “ few” thousands, 
whilst he, poor old chap, was absolutely ruine^d, 
and in his despair would borrow five hundred 


Bella-Detnonia. 


105 


for a month to get himself on his feet again. 
As the five hundred was always punctually re- 
paid, he always got it, and with it the commi- 
seration and absolution of his unconscious vic- 
tims. For the supply of ornamental directors 
he had a fixed ascending scale : a baronet, so 
much ; a baron, so much ; a viscount, an earl, 
a marquis, a duke, so much apiece, according 
to the standing of the title in the financial De- 
brett which financiers keep locked up in their 
strong boxes. 

For her share in the proceedings Mrs. Dash- 
ton charged a regular commission, with now 
and then a bonus. At this moment she wanted 
a bonus, but the bonus she wanted was ten 
thousand pounds, and at this moment it was 
decidedly inconvenient. The major was “fill- 
ing the cast,'’ to put it dramatically, of a com- 
pany for the exploitation of some absolutely 
inaccessible copper-mines in Asia Minor, and, 
though the syndicate was wealthly, the major 
had run through about as much “ petty cash ” 
as the concern could stand. 

He was consequently constrained to re- 
mark, — 

“ For heaven's sake, be reasonable !" 

“Well, it's your own affair, Homer. If Ar- 
lingford doesn't have this ten thou, by Mon- 
day, ‘ up he goes ' at Tattersall's and the Club ; 


io6 Bclla-Deinonia, 

and that means the extinction of Arlingford ; 
and the extinction of Arlingford means the ex- 
tinction of the Ararat Mining Company.” 

^‘But, hang it all, he’s had between fifteen 
and twenty thousand already, and the com- 
pany is beginning to look into the accounts.” 

“Well, what if he has you’ve had the value 
of your money. Without his house for head- 
quarters you’d never have filled your board of 
directors, and you certainly wouldn’t have got 
young Saville, or young Midas^ to ‘go a hun- 
dred for fun,’ as you call it. Besides, you 
viusi get this American Briggs. He’s a million- 
aire, and so long as Arlingford’s on his feet you 
can always strike him there. He’s to be at this 
dinner there to-night to say good-by to God- 
dard.” 

“Goddard 

“You argue yourself unknown. Twentieth 
Hussars, Queen’s Messenger, most popular 
man in London.” 

“ Never met him.” 

“ No, you wouldn’t: he hasn’t got any hun- 
dreds ‘to go for fun.’” 

“ Keep to business, if you please.” 

“I am keeping to business. I want ten 
thousand pounds.” 

“Well, I haven’t got them, and can’t get 
them. There.” ^ 


Bella-Demon ia. 


107 


‘^Well, what are we going to do?” 

I don't know. Can't you borrow it from 
Schouloff ? These Russian princes are always 
fabulously rich. '' 

‘‘Schouloff could certainly get it me if he 
wanted anything in return for it. He told me 
at the Ackerlys' last night that there was a fa- 
vor I could do him ; but I can't do him ten 
thousand pounds' worth of work in three 
days.” 

“Still, you could try him. See what he 
wants. ” 

“I shall certainly do that this afternoon; but 
its a forlorn hope.” 

There was a minute's silence, and then the 
brother broke out : 

“Don't sit saying nothing ! Suggest some- 
thing, for goodness' sake.” 

“I was just about to do so,” returned Mrs. 
Dashton, her eyes fixed on the fire. “ You go 
straight into the city and move heaven and 
earth to get the money. I'll write to Schouloff 
to get him here this afternoon. Write from the 
city to Lady Arlingford to say you are de- 
tained, but will come in after dinner: I'll write 
later on and say I'm ill, but will also come in 
afterwards. Meet me at Arlingford's at nine 
o'clock, and before they're out frorri dinner 
we'll compare notes, I haven't much hope, ” 


io8 


Bella-Demonia, 


Nor have 1 .” 

Well, do your best, anyhow/' 

You bet I will." 

And Major Homer Carteret took up his hat 
and left the house. 

As soon as he had gone, Mrs. Bradley Dash- 
ton sat down and wrote a few lines. 

‘‘Take this," said she to the servant who 
appeared in answer to her summons, “to the 
Russian Legation, and wait for an answer." 

This done, she walked to the fire and held 
out her fingers to the blaze. 

Mrs. Bradley Dashton was an extremely 
handsome woman in the luxurious blonde’style 
of beauty. Her eight-and-twenty years sat 
lightly on her fuzzy brow, and the ravages of 
the Indian climate, and the excitement of her 
life as the successive flame of every subaltern in 
the Bengal Staff Corps, had left no trace upon 
her regular features. 

This had not escaped the notice of the Earl 
of Arlingford when he visited India on a hunt- 
ing-tour, a couple of years before, and, un- 
mindful of the existence of his wife in England, 
or perhaps relying on that lady for protection 
against the ultimate wiles of the siren, he had 
easily persuaded her to abandon Bengal for 
London ; and in her secret soul Emily Dashton 
cherished a hope, founded on a light promise 


Bella-Demonia, 


109 

of Lord Arlingford’s, that so soon as her lady- 
ship should seek redress of her wrongs through 
the medium of the divorce court, she, Emily 
Dashton, should graduate as the Countess of 
Arlingford in the peerage of England. 

Hence her anxiety to aid his lordship in the 
present strait, hence her late conference with 
her brother the major, and hence her summons 
to Prince Schouloff, whose ally she had been, 
off and on, ever since her return to England. 

The answer to the latter arrived promptly, 
and with a little sigh of satisfaction Mrs. 
Bradley Dashton proceeded to lunch. 


iio 


Bella-Defnonia. 


CHAPTER II. 

A POLITICAL COMMISSION. 

At three o'clock that afternoon, clad in the 
most bewitching of wrappers, Mrs. Bradley 
Dashton lay curled up in an arm-chair before 
her fire, expectant. It cannot be said that her 
features were free from care, for there's many a 
slip 'twixt the fingers and ten thousand pounds; 
still, she was more hopeful than she had been 
in the morning, for Schouloff's prompt reply 
to her note and his obedience to her summons 
pointed to the fact that there was something 
she could do for him, and Prince Schouloff's 
service, though one of danger and intricacy, 
was excellently well paid. 

The miniature cathedral chimes of the car- 
riage clock on the mantelpiece had hardly 
struck thrice when Mrs. Dashton heard a han- 
som checking its mad career at her door, and, 
a moment after, Schouloff entered the room. 
She did not rise, but extended lo him her 
hand, which the Russian bent himself rever- 
entially to kiss. 


Bella-Demonia. lil 

‘^And how goes it with my charming ally?” 
he began. 

‘‘Pretty well, thanks. At this moment I'm 
bored. I want something to do, — something 
exciting. That's why I asked you to call.” 

“Ah ! I thought as much. Well, how much 
is it this time?” he asked, in a matter-of-fact 
tone of voice. 

“Ten thousand pounds.” 

“ Dear me ! is that all ?” 

“ That's all for the present,'’ said she, ignor- 
ing the sarcasm. 

“ On/y ten thousand pounds !” repeated 
Prince Schouloff. 

“ Can I have it?” 

“Well, I hope so. It will depend on your- 
self.” 

“You don't mean to say,” she said, eagerly, 
“ that there's anything I can do for you that's 
worth ten thousand pounds? I want it by 
Monday. ” 

“If you will do what I want, your work 
will be done by midnight. At oneA.M., unless 
you fear I might compromise you by so un- 
timely a call, I will come here and pay you ten 
thousand pounds, in notes or gold. How do 
you want them ?” 

“Don't play with me, Schouloff,” said the 


Bella-Demonia. 


iii 

woman, nervously: ‘‘I can't bear it. I want 
this money awfully, badly." 

“ I am not playing. I was never more serious 
in my life. I heard that his lordship needed ten 
thousand pounds, and obtained the money 
yesterday in the hope that you could earn it." 

'‘Earn it ! It's a large sum !" 

"An eriormous sum, — the greatest I have 
ever paid for an individual service." 

"I suppose you want something impos- 
sible." 

"To a woman so beautiful and talented as 
Mrs. Bradley Dashton, nothing should be im- 
possible. " 

The woman sat watching him. She knew 
her man, and the thought that the money was 
within her reach was so sweet that she post- 
poned as far as possible the stating of the con- 
dition which she felt sure must shatter her 
hopes. 

"Well," she said, at last, "what do you 
want me to do ?" 

Schouloff became suddenly very grave. 

"Emily Dashton," he said, "I know no 
Englishwoman who can work with your promp- 
titude and finesse. You have often served 
me in what may be called police-cases: I have 
never employed you in political intrigue. I 


Bella-Demonia, 


113 


am going to give you a commission higher 
than any you have executed hitherto/" 

‘‘Why don"t you give it tQ.Bella-Demonia?’" 
asked she, suspiciously. 

“Because the Baroness Altdorff is at this 
moment in Turkey, — for her health."" 

“Well, what is it? Til do your com- 
mission, — whatever it is,"" concluded she, des- 
perately. 

“Good ! If you can^ I know” you will; but 
it is something higher than the stealing of a 
letter or the extortion of a confession. Listen ! 
V^ou are bidden to a dinner at Lord Arling- 
ford"s to-night."" 

“Yes."" 

“To meet Captain Aubyn Goddard."" 

“Yes."" 

“ He starts by the night-express from Char- 
ing Cross by Dover, for Vienna, en route for 
Constantinople, with governmental despatches of 
the highest importance."" 

“Yes, yes. Go on."" 

“ He must not go."" 

“ What?” 

“ He must de detained."" 

“And who is to detain him.?” asked the 
woman, with an expressive shrug of the shoul- 
ders. 

“You.” 


II4 


Bella-Demonia, 


^ "‘Exactly." 

“ Prince Schouloff, do you realize what you 
have asked ?" 

“ Do you realize that you have asked for ten 
thousand pounds ?” 

“ Do you know Aubyn Goddard ?" 

“ By reputation, — well." 

“And how do you suppose he is to be pre- 
vented from doing his duty?" 

“ I have not the vaguest idea. If I had, I 
should save ten thousand pounds." 

For a full minute the two sat looking at each 
other, the man deadly calm, the woman evi- 
dently profoundly agitated. At last she spoke. 

" " If this is the price of the money, I had bet- 
ter abandon all hope of it. The thing is 
grotesquely impossible. You know, as well as 
^I do, that from the moment he leaves Arling- 
’ fords till he enters the train at Calais he will be 
watched by armed men. How can he be 
stopped ?" 

“ He cannot be stopped. Besides, I do not 
want him stopped, — only detained: till to- 
morrow morning will be sufficient. The delay 
of his despatches for a few hours is all that is 
necessary. Force is out of the question: he 
must not start." 


Bella-Demonia, 115 

‘'And you expect me to prevent him, — to 
keep him in London 

“You knew him in India, did you not?*' 

“ Yes,'' answered the woman, with a flush, 
“but that was all over years ago. I have no 
more power over him than — than you have." 

“ Well," said Schouloff, looking at his watch, 
“I must go. It is four o'clock. Between 
this and midnight a woman like you might 
wreck an empire. Think it over: do not throw 
down your cards before you have played a 
single one. I dine at the Duke's to-night: at 
ten I shall drop in at the Arlingford's. At 
eleven you will put your scheme, whatever it 
may be, into operation. At twelve the mail 
will go without the Queen's Messenger, — I 
hope. And at one I shall have the honor of 
waiting upon you with ten thousand pounds, — 
I hope. Now, au plaisir and a bientot.'* 

And before Mrs. Dashton could say another 
word he had left the room. As the rattle of 
his cab-wheels died away in the distance, Mrs. 
Dashton dropped into her chair, and lay there 
motionless, her eyes fastened on the wall before 
her. 


Bella-Demonia, 


li6 


CHAPTER III. 

CAPTAIN AUBYN GODDARD. 

It was nine o'clock. 

In the drawing-room of Arlingford House, 
Piccadilly, Mrs. Bradley Dashton sat in a low 
arm-chair before the fire in much the same ati- 
tude as we left her at her own house in May- 
fair! The lights were turned low, but the 
butler was making a tour of the room, turning 
them up one by one. 

'^Dinner is not over yet, Cookson.?" re- 
marked she. 

‘^Not yet, ma'am. Dinner was late." 

‘‘When Major Carteret arrives, show him in 
here." 

“Yes, ma'am." 

To judge by the expression on* Mrs. Bradley 
Dashton’s face, her plans had not undergone 
any simplification since the afternoon, and she 
had evidently arrived at that point at which 
there is nothing to be done save to await de- 
velopments from external sources. It was 
therefore with a sigh of relief and anticipation 
that she rose and moved towards the door as 


Bella-Demonia* 


117 

Cookson a few moments later drew aside the 
portieres, announcing, — 

Major Carteret/' 

^‘How late you are!*' she exclaimed, hur- 
riedly. “I began to be afraid that you 
wouldn't get here before dinner was over — " 

“What ! doubt me? And after so much de- 
votion to the cause, — after foregoing a charm- 
ing dinner here and rushing through my solitary 
one at the Club on purpose to serve you? 
Really, my dear child — " 

“You're too civil to have any good news," 
interrupted she. “Keep your society manner 
for Lady Arlingford. You're only truthful 
when you're disagreeable. Be disagreeable 
now ; for I want the truth. Have you been 
able to raise the money?" 

‘ ‘ I regret to say that it was impossible. " 

“Well, what's to be done?" 

“I don’t know. There's only Schoulotf left. 
I saw him this afternoon, and he hinted that 
you could be of service to him. I suppose 
you've seen him ?” 

“Yes, I've seen him." 

“And can he help us?" 

“Yes, if—" 

“If! Good God 1 listen to her ! As though 
there could be any * if 1 Of course you'll do 
what he wants. What is it?'' 


/ 


Ii8 


Bella- Demonia, 


^‘Captain Goddard leaves to-night for Vienna 
with despatches — '' 

^‘Well, what has it to do with him?'' 

Schouloff wants him detained. That's all." 

Oh r 

The tone of Major Carteret's exclamation 
spoke volumes. 

‘‘I'm getting bored with this Goddard," said 
he, after a pause. 

“Of course I regret that," said she, “but 
he's an old sweetheart of Alice Arlingford's, I 
think. That. should make him interesting to 
you. " 

“Indeed ! Why 

“Because you have been laboring under the 
delusion that you might, by the employment of 
much strategy, induce Lady Arlingford to care 
for you or compromise herself. You have not 
succeeded, nor are you likely to succeed. You 
are not her ‘form,' even did she intend to be 
so charming as to give her husband cause for 
alarm, — which does not, I grieve to say, seem 
likely. You forced your entree here by lending 
Jack Arlingford money. Well, you are here. 
What advantage have you gained ?" 

“You are delightfully frank, — I might al- 
most say rude. Why ?" 

“Because you're no use to me; so why 
should I be pivil ?" 


Bella- Demonia, 


11? 

'‘An admirable reason; but you might re- 
flect—^' 

At this juncture Cookson the butler entered, 
and put an end to the colloquy by saying to 
Carteret, — 

“His lordship desires to know if you will 
join them in the dining-room/' 

“Oh ! very well," replied Carteret. “Yes." 
And he went. 

“Who’s here, Cookson?" said Mrs. Dashton 
when he had gone. 

“Mr. Cincinnatus Q. Briggs, an American 
gentleman, ma’am. Master — erghem ! — Mr. 
Charles Middleton, and Miss Middleton." 

“Is that all? Whats made dinner late?" 
asked Mrs. Dashton, in quick alarm. 

“They were waiting for a gentleman who 
sent a note at the last moment, ma’am." 

“Do you know who it was?" 

‘ ‘ I think it was — " 

“Captain Goddard." 

A footman made the announcement, cutting 
his superior short as Captain Goddard entered 
the room. Mrs. Dashton had resumed her seat 
before the fire, and the new-comer did not notice 
her. 

“Not quite finished dinner yet,’ sir," said the 
butler. “Would you like to go into the 
dining-room ?’' 


120 


Bella-Demonia. 


Thanks, no. Til wait here.'' 

And ril keep you company !" 

The words were spoken by Mrs. Dashton, 
who turned as she spoke and held out her hand. 
Seeing her, Goddard uttered an exclamation of 
surprise. 

'‘Hullo, Dashey!’' he cried. " How are you, 
old lady.? How stunning you look ! Egad ! 
and deadly respectable, too, — for you." 

“Hold your tongue. We're not in India 
now ; and please remember it's something like 
seven or eight years since we met there." 

“But—" 

“Don't ! Don't look at me and say it's im- 
possible to remember seven or eight years. I'll 
take all your compliments for granted, — and Til 
take a little discretion and prudence at the 
same time, if you please. Do you understand 
me. Captain Goddard .?" 

“Perfectly, Mrs, Dashton," replied he, grave- 
ly. There was a moment’s pause, and then he 
added, with a quick intonation of suddenly- 
aroused suspicion in his voice, — 

“What are you doing here.?" 

“In England .?" queried she, meeting his tone 
with one of subdued defiance, 

“No: in this house." 

“Oh ! on a visit." 

“Whose invitation?" 


Bella-Demoilia, 


121 


. * ‘ Whose business 

‘^That depends/' 

‘ ‘ On what ?" 

‘ ‘ On you. " 

‘'Not on you 

‘ ‘ That also depends. " 

The little colloquy was made with laconic 
rapidity. As silence reigned again, Mrs. Dash- 
ton eyed her opponent keenly, as if measuring 
iheir respective strengths. Finally, seeming to 
satisfy herself of her own inferiority, she re- 
sumed, in an altered tone, — 

“Well, what do you want to know.?" 

“How you got into this house." 

“By Lord Arlingford's invitation." 

“ So I thought !" 

The woman bit her lip. 

“Well, next.?" she asked, containing herself 
with an effort. 

“ How long have you known Lady Arling- 
ford.?" was Goddard's next question. 

“Since I arrived in England from Nice." 

“So I supposed ! How long is that ?" 

“About two months." 

“ How do you like her.?" 

“I don't know. I haven't thought" 

“ How does she like you .?" 

“I don't know. I haven't cared. How 
does she like j/ou/' 


122 


Bella-Demdnia, 


‘‘Well, I hope. 

“Good 1 Tm glad to find some one she does 
care for. '' 

“You don’t like Lady Arlingford as well as 
her husband, do you V’ 

Mrs. Dashton rose with an impatient gesture. 

“I’m getting a little tired of your questions,” 
she said, petulantly. “Tell me plainly, is it 
‘ Pax ’ between us 

“Yes, if you behave yourself. Now look 
here, Dashey,” he continued, frankly, “it’s a 
rough thing to hurt a woman’s feelings, and I 
hate to be hard on you, but Lady Arlingford is 
my cousin, and a dear friend into the bargain, 
and — and — well, hang it ! you’ve no right here 
in the same house with her, and if you give me 
cause I shall be compelled to drop her a hint, 
and then most likely she’ll — ” 

“Do as her husband bids her,— as all dutiful 
and obedient wives should !” 

“Oh!” The intonation which Goddard 
threw into the ejaculation was unmistakable. 

''Exactly^'' said Mrs. Dashton, as if in reply. 
“It is ‘Pax,’ isn’t it.? Let us forget, forgive, 
and shake hands over it. I’m not going to stay 
long : I go abroad in less than a month : so 
you needn’t be alarmed on Lady Arlingford’s 
account. I must have a pleasant life, if I die 
for it, and if Lady Arlingford won’t ask me to 


Bella-Demonia, 


123 


her house, — why, Lord Arlingford must, — 
that s all. Lm very little in England, but to 
keep my Continental friends going I must have 
a good house in London at my back. 

'‘Do your Continental friends care much.?’' 

“Of course they do, — Prince Schouloff, for ' 
instance, who entertains so charmingly, whose 
yacht, opera-boxes, villas everywhere, are* 
always at my disposal. He sees me here; he 
likes to come to Lord Arlingford s informal 
little gatherings after his stately dinners and 
ceremonials. For Arlingford’s little parties are 
not particularly ceremonious, are they T 

“Well, — erghem ! — you’re here, aren’t you, 
old lady .? so you ought to know.” 

He spoke lightly, but in his heart he was 
thinking, “Poor Alice! I wonder howl can 
help her.” What Mrs. Dashton would have 
answered remains uninvented; for at that mo- 
ment a rattle of the rings of the portieres an- 
nounced the arrival from the dining-room of 
Lady Arlingford and Miss Kitty Middleton. 

The Countess of Arlingford, rapidly taking 
in the pair that rose as she entered, bowed icily 
as she greeted Mrs. Bradley Dashton, who re- 
turned her bow with something of defiance in 
the gesture of her head. The enmity of the 
two women was obvious to the merest observer. 


124 


Bella-Demonia. 


Turning to Goddard, however, her manner en- 
tirely changed. 

“Ah, Aubyn she exclaimed, “I am so 
glad- to see you ! What a long while it seems 
since you went away I You remember Kitty, 

. of course, and — Mrs. Bradley Dashton — Cap- 
• tain — 

“Captain Goddard and I have met before,'' 
said Mrs. Dashton, with a smile, “and we 
have just been re-cementing our friendship." 

Goddard looked for a moment at the gold- 
headed Kitty, who stood staring at him, and 
then said, — 

“ Kitty, kiss your old pal at once !" 

“ Let me see," mused Kitty; “ what is it the 
Yankee says? Oh, yes! Why, cert’nly." 
And with much deliberation Miss Middleton 
proceeded to kiss the handsome Queen's Mes- 
senger. 

“Kitty," said Lady Arlingford," “do be 
more careful — before strangers." 

“ Oh," replied the girl, turning saucily with 
her arms still round Goddards neck, “Mrs. 
Dashton won't be scared at a kiss — more or 
less," she added in Goddard's ear. 

“ So you're as wild as ever?" said the latter, 
who was suffering from mingled amusement 
and embarrassment. 

Worse a great deal/' put in LadyArling- 


Bella-Demonid, 


^11 

ford. you could have heard h«r at din- 

ner — 

Well/' explained Kitty, you wanted some 
one to wake you up. You looked like a block 
of marble, and you ought to be very much 
obliged to me for being so disreputable a 
person. What do you suppose I asked the 
Yankee, Aubyn.?" 

‘^Something more awful than usual, or you 
would not be so much amused. Go on: Fm 
ready to be shocked." 

“I put on my most serious face and asked 
what he did when he- found a more than usually 
high mantel-piece. He looked puzzled, and 
waited for an explanation; so I explained by 
asking if, under the circumstances, he stood 
on his head, so as to get his feet up, in the na- 
tional attitude." 

'‘What did he do ?" 

“ Sold me dead. Instead of being amazed 
or amused, he said, ‘ Is that out of Punch ? " 

“ Poor Kitty ! how crushing !" 

“Never mind. I shall survive the blow, and 
come up smiling for the second round. Fll 
get Mrs. Dashton to tell me about Prince 
Schouloffs adventures and crimes. Fm always 
so interested in any one with a Russian name, 
— sort of blood-curdling, isn't it ! You'll tell 
me of the beautiful murders he's committed, 


126 


Bella-Demonia, 


won’t you, Mrs. Dashton } It'll cheer me 
up.” 

‘‘If the prince heard you,” said Lady Arling- 
ford, with a smile, “you would probably be 
sent to Siberia for life.” 

“Who is your Russian curiosity you’re so 
keen about?” asked Goddard. 

“Prince Schouloff, the Russian plenipoten- 
tiary. You know him, surely?” 

“I know of him. An unprincipled scoun- 
drel, from all accounts, — utterly unscrupulous, 
— a relentless, indomitable autocrat ; in short, 
a thoroughly typical diplomat, who bears the 
reputation of uninterrupted success in his 
career by never having fallen a victim to the 
tender passion, There’s a hearsay description 
for you.” 

“In that case,” said Mrs. Dashton, “his 
'’days of success are numbered now'" 

“ And who is the conqueror?” 

“Why, Bella-Demonia. ” 

“And who’s Bella-Demoina ?” pursued God- 
dard. 

“Oh, come on, Mrs. Dashton, broke in 
Kitty. “You can tell him about Bella-De- 
monia presently.” 

“You should not bore Mrs. Dashton, Kitty,” 
said Lady Arlingford. 

“Don’t mind her, Mrs. Dashton,” said the 


Bella-Demonia. 


127 


young woman, draw’ing her victim towards the 
billiard-room, that was separated from the 
drawing-room by heavy curtains. ^‘You got 
to where the two spies crept out from the win- 
dow-curtains, their daggers gleaming ! — Eeeh!'' 

Kitty Middleton’s sentence closed with a 
scream. She had run into Cookson, who at 
that moment entered through the curtains with 
coffee. Recovering herself, however, she took 
her cup and disappeared with Mrs. Dashton. 

Left alone with Goddard, Lady Arlingford 
seated herself by his side, saying, as she did 
so,— 

How long it seems since you went to India! 
And by what a strange collection of accidents 
it is that we have never met since!’' 

‘^Do you remember the day I left.?” said 
he, in reply. “We were dreadful spoons, 
weren’t we.f^ Ah, I little thought then that I 
should come back to find you had forgotten 
your first sweetheart !” 

“ How do you know — ” 

“That I was your first? Why, you were 
only three years old when we met. ” 

“Well, how do you know I have forgotten? 
But, seriously, you were in hopes of getting 
into active service. I heard General Saville 
say something of your getting a command. Is 
that true ? ” 


128 


Bclla-Demon ia. 


“Partly. I expect to get an appointment 
that may lead to a command. General Saville's 
awfully fond of me, — dear old chap ! He'd 
do anything for me, and he has great influence 
at headquarters." 

“Of course your knowledge of Eastern 
languages will help your promotion." 

“Well, yes, to a certain extent. I must say 
that I look forward to active service as my 
greatest luck. I can say it to you, Alice : I 
feel that if the chance comes I can make a 
career, and my chance has come, I think. 
The mission on which I start to-night is of the 
greatest importance. Vital issues depend on 
the prompt delivery of my despatches : the loss 
of an hour might prove fatal to their effect. I 
am the more anxious to carry through to-night's 
job satisfactorily, as it will be my last service 
before retiring." 

“But, in spite of all that, I shall hate to see 
you leave for Afghanistan. " 

“Ah, but you don't know how tired I am 
of being a toy soldier. I'm only a sort of post- 
man, after all ! " 

“Nice thing for a Queen's Messenger to 
say ! " 

“Well, denuded of the swagger, it's much 
the same; I carry despatches; so does the 


Bella-Demonia, 


129 


postman. He works harder and gets worse 
paid, — that’s all. There has been one thing 
about it lately, however, — an adventure that 
interested me immensely, and I had made up 
my mind to see the end of it, but I shall pro- 
bably be prevented by this very stroke of good 
luck. And Tm just disappointed. Human 
nature, you know — ” 

‘‘An adventure.?^ Tell me about it.” 

“I will. This last August, waiting in Vienna 
for despatches, I went to a masquerade, and, 
after having been thoroughly bored by the 
usual round of stupidity, was just leaving, 
when a woman who I had noticed was being 
followed and annoyed by a man, put herself 
under my escort to regain her carriage unmo- 
lested. The voice was unmistakably gentle : 
no one, even in that questionable place, could 
have presumed to be impertinent to her. You 
felt at once that she feared no insult : even in 
asking a service she had the air of conferring a 
favor. The charm of this confidence in herself 
and in me was so profound that I forgot every- 
thing else and could only speculate on the 
mystery. She hurried me forward till we 
reached a side-door and found ourselves in a 
lonely street, apparently far from the general 
entrance. Here a brougham was waiting. 


130 


Bclla-Demon ia. 


She jumped in. Aghast at the thought that 
the adventure was to end there and then, I 
begged to be allowed to see her again. In 
reply she made me promise to ask no questions 
of or about her, and then, giving me an invi- 
tation to breakfast the following day, said, 
‘ Good-night, and many thanks, Captain Aubyn 
Goddard ! ' 

‘‘She knew you ! Who was she ? 

“To this moment I have not the vaguest 
idea, beyond that she is called the Baroness 
Altdorff. By the time I had read her name 
and address on the card she had given me, her 
brougham was out of sight. 

“You take away my breath. It is fascinat- 
ing; but I suppose I need ask no more?"' 

“You are mistaken. Equi\T)cai as the ad- 
venture appears in the beginning, to the end 1 
^can tell you every detail. 

' “Did you go to breakfast But of course 
you did. What a question ! 

The address was in the suburbs. I found a 
little house hidden in a garden that at first 
appeared deserted, but at the appointed time 
I was admitted at once. A simplicity and 
elegance that bespoke the owner pervaded this 
charming nest. The whole place was a dumb 
repudiation of the feverish adventure of the 


Bella-Demonia, 


131 

night before, — all was such rattling ‘good form;' * 
there was that crisp, get-up-early appearance 
which boded more the advent of a healthy 
English girl in her spotless cuffs and collar 
than of my heroine, whose entrance put an end 
to my reflections. She was quite unknown to 
me. I will spare you all description. The 
confidence that had been her chief attraction 
the night before saved a world of awkwardness. 
She had a strange charm, and, intelligent and 
often profound as her conversation on cur- 
rent events was, I give you my word I en- 
tirely forgot that I had never seen her before. 

It seemed as though we were old friends." 

“ What was she like } Very beautiful ? " 

“I really don't know." 

“What an absurd answer ! " 

“But I mean it. I don't know if she is 
what is called beautiful ; I don't know if she is 
what I thought beautiful. I only know that 
that is a point one ignores in her presence. I 
doubt if any one could describe her after seeing 
her." 

Lady Arlingford smiled. 

“You have described her, by not being able 
to describe her," she said. 

Aubyn Goddard colored. 

“My dear Alice," said he, “you show me 
I've been making an awful fool of myself." 


132 Bella-Dernonia. 

**Aubyn/' returned the woman, earnestly, 
‘^the love of a man is not foolish, in my eyes/' 
He started. 

Love said he. 

Yes, love ! " she replied. 

And a dead silence fell between them. 


Bella-Demonia, 


133 


CHAPTER IV. 

A GAME OF ECARTE. 

It was broken by the sound of a boyish voice 
exclaiming behind them, — 

Hullo, Goddard ! you back again ? I heard 
my governor say you were going to Afghanistan. 
Is it true? I wish I could go with you.'' 
Charlie Middleton had just entered the room. 

hope it's true," replied Goddard, pleas- 
antly. think so. Are you going into the 
service ?" 

No. The mater always begins to cry when 
any one says ‘ soldier,' and a fellow can't make 
his mother cry, can he ! — beastly bad form. 
Where's my beastly sister ? She's always in the 
way when one doesn't want her. The other 
day I was talking to Mrs. Dashton, and — well, 
catch Kitty giving a fellow a chance ! — not she. 
Deuced fine woman, Mrs. Dashton, ain't she ? 
I say, has she got any Mr. Dashton ?" 

“The memory of man runneth not to the 
contrary," quoted Goddard, a quaint look 
coming into his eyes. “You take my advice, 
Charlie, and give Mrs. Dashton a wide berth. " 


134 


Bella-Demonia. 


'^Well, I think a good many people are a 
good deal too hard on her. She's a woman 
not easily understood. Now, I do understand 
her," said Charlie, with the superiority of his 
seventeen years. 

Come and talk to your May Queen, Char- 
lie," called Kitty from the door of the billiard- 
room at this point. 

*^Oh, you 1 vulgar beggar," ejaculated Char- 
lie, coloring helplessly. ‘‘ There's a sister for 
a man to have I" 

‘^Come to its May Queen, mother's darling," 
reiterated Kitty, laughing herself into the room. 
*^You didn't know Charlie was his mother's 
darling, did you ? His mother ought to have 
heard him calling Mrs. Dashton the May 
Queen.' 

At this point Charlie Middleton’s overtaxed 
forbearance became too much for him: he made 
a wild rush for his escaping sister which took 
them both out of the room. 

‘‘What a good girl that is," said Lady Ar- 
lingford, “in spite of her wild tongue ! I don't 
know what I should do without her." 

“ Is it true that she's to marry Dick Saville V 

“Yes: they were made for each other; but I 
shall miss her sadly. She is always ready with 
a cheery word to dispel the very worst attack 


Bella-Demonta, 


135 


of blues. My life would be much worse with- 
out her.’' 

Worse 

‘‘I — I mean — I meant to say I don’t make 
friends quickly: you know I am not what 
the French call ' expansive/ and as one gets 
older — ” 

Goddard had been watching her color come 
and go as she strove to retrieve her slip of the 
tongue, and now he interrupted her gravely. 

“ Alice,” said he, what does all this mean ? 
You are not like your old self. We were boy 
and girl together for as long as we can remember; 
friendship and affection like ours do not fade 
with the years that pass us by, — no, dear, — and 
my affection for you tells me more than I 
dreaded to hear. I have kept silent long 
enough, — too long, it may be. Vague rumors 
have reached me, which I have, not heeded, 
thinking that you would speak if there was 
aught to say. Tell me, what is your trouble ?” 

“Trouble ? Why, what an alarmist you are !” 

“That is no answer. Look here, Alice: I 
am going away to-night, possibly*for months, 
and I must come straight to the point. We 
will speak plainly. It is no use pretending not 
to know what the world says of Arlingford. 
The world is not always — or often — right; but 


136 


Bella-Demonia. 


what is Mrs. Bradley Dashton doing here ? why 
do you admit her ?” 

I — my dear Aubyn, you know very little of 
Jack Arlingford, to ask me such a question. 
He invites his own friends, and Mrs. Dashton 
is one of them. Let us talk of something else. 

‘^No, we will talk of nothing else. I want 
to hear something of your life since your mar- 
riage. In all your letters you have been strangely 
reticent on this subject. Lots of gossip, but 
not a word of yourself. I believe I am the 
only man whose relationship to you gives him 
a right to question your husband.'' 

‘•A right ! My dear boy, you are so impetu- 
ous. If I do not complain, why should you ? 
Why insist on pursuing an unpleasant subject.? 
Do you not see I am content.? I made a mis- 
take, that's all." 

‘‘That's all ! When I heard of your marri- 
age — I was in Calcutta at the time — I wondered 
how your puritanical mother's consent had been 
won. Everybody knew Jack Arlingford's past. 
It would not have been telling tales out of 
school, in his case, and I wished that at that 
time I could have been in London. When I 
came home soon after, you seemed happy, and 
— and — I think I must have been a fool not to 
look deeper into my old playfellow's heart." 

‘ ‘ And if there was no heart to search ? " 


B ella-Demon ia . 


137 


"^Ah! but how you are changed! You 
will not complain, you are too brave, and I 
was wrong to ask what you desire should re- 
main unasked. Forgive me ; Fm a blunder- 
ing soldier ; but remember, dear, Fm always 
your friend, and if jou can ever break the ice 
that binds your confidence, count on me. 
Count on me, dear, to the last.’' 

For an instant Lady Arlingfords lips trem- 
bled ; then, breaking down, she hid her face in 
her hands. 

'‘Oh, why has God so punished me she 
murmured. “I thought I was stronger.” 

“Now I have made you cry 1 Don’t give 
way,” said Goddard, helplessly. “ What have 
I said 

“Not you, — not you,” answered the woman. 
“I thought I was hardened ; but — if you only 
knew what my life has been.” 

“Won’t you tell me.^ Perhaps you think 
things are worse than they really are. ” 

'"'‘Think! There is nothing worse than my 
life. God never condemned a creature to mis- 
ery more deep than mine. But come I forget 
what I have said. Don’t be frightened ; you 
see I am unstrung. I am not ill, but I think 
it is good to unburden my heart : it is not so 
hard to confide in you. But I had made up 
my mind never to speak of my trouble : I have 


138 


Bella-Demon ia. 


no patience with women who have but one 
idea of relief, — the divorce court. I would 
sooner die than show the world my sorrow. 

‘^You may carry that reticence too far. I 
would stake my life you are not to blame.'' 

“ You might hold me blameless. You know 
me, have known me all my life. But can you 
say to the world, ' Here is a girl, brought up 
by a good simple mother in the simple faith of 
marry, love, and obey your husband, — an hon- 
est, uninteresting creed that thousands of wo- 
men live up to. This girl is married to ‘^a 
man of the world." She is full of belief in the 
holy bond ; her illusions, are unbroken, and 
her faiths supreme. One by one they snap, as 
all in her finds no response in him. She fades 
and withers. The world asks, ‘‘What is his 
crime It seeks a crime punishable by 
law, as if the atmosphere of his presence were 
not crime enough 1' Oh, the curse of our false, 
worldly society, which demands position at 
any cost, which admits a man with any past, 
nor inquiries further than his title I ‘ Her lady- 
ship ' makes up for all shortcomings. Of this 
is the world created by Fashion, but it is not 
the world created by God." 

‘ ‘ Poor girl ! poor girl ! what can I say ? 
How can I advise you 

“There is no advice I could — for the 


Bella-Demonia, 


139 


child’s sake. My poor little girl would be the 
worst sufferer. How can I brand the father 
without branding the child } For her sake I 
will endure ; but it is almost beyond endur- 
ance. I have told you so much that I may as 
well tell you the last infamy. I missed my 
pearl necklace some days ago. The same 
evening, that woman, who was going to the 
theatre with us, was standing in front of that 
glass as I came into the room. As she saw me 
she hastily unclasped something from her neck. 
My heart stood still ; I cannot tell why, but I 
am convinced she had my necklace \” 

You do not think she stole it 

Not for a moment. He gave it to her.” 

I cannot believe that any man, no matter 
how bad, could be so lost to shame as to offer 
any woman such an insult !” 

In the excitement under which they both 
labored, neither had heard a slight movement 
beyond the curtains of the billard-room. Un- 
perceived by them, Mrs. Dashton had been 
about to enter the room, when the instinct of 
her class bade her listen. She was eagerly 
drinking in the whole conversation. 

I am not mistaken,” resumed the countess. 

‘ ‘ My shame comes to me a thousand times 
over as I speak of it. How I have endured 
that woman’s presence so long I do not know. 


140 


Behla-Demonia, 


Do you think because I look passionless that I 
do not feel, that I cannot see, the scarce-con- 
cealed sneers of the women, the open, half- 
proffered pity of the men around me ? I have 
borne it all till now ; but the end has come, 
and if my suspicion about the necklace should 
prove correct — '' 

'‘Yes, yes,'' interrupted Goddard, eagerly, 
" sometimes a momentary impulse may deter- 
mine what has been a long and weary struggle; 
and should such an impulse come to you, do 
not hesitate to command me. There is noth- 
ing I would not sacrifice for you !" 

“Boooh !" 

"Goodness ! how you startled me !" 

The speakers were Kitty Middleton and 
Mrs. Dashton. The former had come running 
in through the billiard-room, and had seized 
the latter round the waist as she came. 

"I’ll lay an even tenner," said the girl, 
cheerily, as they entered together, that Mrs. 
Dashton's been listening. You know the pro- 
verb } How do you come out, Mrs. Dashton 

"Kitty, you're too bad !" expostulated Lady 
Arlingford. "I hope Mrs. Dashton will ex- 
cuse you. " 

" Of course she will," returned Kitty. "I've 
got a capital story to tell her while we put our 
hair straight and powder our noses. It’s mild- 


Bella-Demonia, 


14I 


ly improper. Come along. The men are 
coming in.'' 

And. before Mrs. Dashton could say a word, 
she had been whisked out of the room again. 

At this moment there entered from the din- 
ing-room, laughing and talking together. Lord 
Arlingford, Major Carteret, and Mr. Cincinna- 
tus Q. Briggs. 

‘^Ah, Goddard! glad to see you again," 
said his lordship, shaking Goddard by the 
hand. “Sorry you were detained. Major 
Carteret, Captain Goddard — Mr. Briggs. Mr. 
Briggs will be glad to ask you some questions 
about Berlin that I couldn’t answer. I know 
you can. He is doing Europe, and I tell him 
no one is better able than you to give him the 
information he seeks. " 

“Only too happy," replied Goddard, bow- 
ing. “I fancy I knew a brother of yours, Mr. 
Briggs. He was painting at Leipsic — Horace 
I think his name was. Am I right 

“Perfectly," replied Briggs. “He often 
spoke of you, and he gave me a letter of intro- 
duction which your absence from London has 
prevented my using." 

I need not say, command me. I am, un- 
fortunately, obliged to leave town to-night, on 
urgent business : but I hope to be back in 


14^ Bella-Demonia, 

about a fortnight. Come and have a chat then 
and tell me what I can do.'’ 

Thank you. I shall come with pleasure." 

Mr. Cincinnatus Q. Briggs was a most dis- 
appointing American, — that is, from the Eng- 
lish point of view of Kitty Middleton, His 
clear-cut face was innocent of goatee, his 
clothes, though of Gothamite origin,, fitted him 
with a precision worthy of Saville Row or Con- 
duit Street, his full deep voice was guiltless of 
the least suspicion of twang, he neither ha- 
zarded '^guesses" on subjects under discus- 
sion nor spent his time in vain calculations" 
concerning the affairs of life. He never reck- 
oned," nor did he “ enthuse." He ate with a 
fork in the regulation manner, and, whilst 
justly proud of the Yellowstone Park and the 
Yosemite Valley, did not dismiss Vesuvius 
with the reflection that his country boasted a 
waterfall that could extinguish it in two min- 
utes. In fact, instead of being an American 
gentleman, he was a gentlemanly American ; 
and Kitty Middleton, who watched to see him 
put his feet on the table and wave a handker- 
chief embroidered with the stars and stripes, 
was disappointed and annoyed. 

As he turned to Lady Arlingford, the master 
of the house remarked to Goddard, — 

*‘You go to-night, I understand. Things 


Bella-Demonia. 


143 


seem pretty lively at the Foreign Office. 
‘What's to be the end of it all is the only 
question one hears nowadays, and no one 
seems able to answer it. By the way,'’ con- 
tinued he, lowering his voice, “Mrs. Dashton 
tells me you knew her in India." 

“Yes; most of our fellows can claim that 
— honor. I scarcely expected to meet her 
here, — or in the same house as any man's 
wifer 

The words were spoken with bitter empha- 
sis, and the speaker turned on his heel, to be 
immediately tackled by Charlie Middleton, who 
had entered with the men. Arlingford looked 
after him and muttered between his teeth, — 

“You shall pay for that, you puppy !" 

Mrs. Dashton, entering the room at that mo- 
ment, caught his expression, and came up to 
him with a mischievous smile on her face. 

‘ ‘ Tt-tt-tt !" said she. “ Has he been scolded 
by his wife's friend, — naughty boy ? God- 
dard's affection for Alice is really quite touch- 
ing, isn't it ?" 

“Don't play the fool !" was the courteous 
rejoinder. “What did Schouloff say.'^ Can 
he let us have the money 

“Ye-es." 

“ What does he want for it ?" 

“More than I can do." 


144 


Beiia-Demonia, 


Nonsense ! you must do anything he says, 
i must have it.’' 

‘‘He wants Goddard detained to-night. He 
must be delayed at any cost. This is the price 
of the loan.” 

“Oh!” 

‘ ‘ Exactly. What do you think about it T' 

“ How can he be detained ?” 

“ I think I know away, if you will consent.” 

“If! when you know I must have the ten 
thousand by Monday or be posted?” 

‘ ‘ Very well. Let me wear the pearl necklace 
to-night. I brought it with me.” 

‘ ‘ The necklace ? Why — how — ?” 

“Ask no questions. Yes or no?” 

“No, — not that.” 

“All-right: manage for yourself. ” 

“ Hang it, Emily ! don’t be angry with* me.” 

“Then don’t be a fool !” 

“I’ll — I’ll decide in ten minutes.” And Ar- 
lingford turned and walked into the billiard- 
room. 

Left alone, Mrs. Dashton’s face was crossed 
by a look of triumph. 

“So, my lady,” said she to herself, “pure 
and passionless as you pretend to be, you can 
feel ! So can I, when I am unwelcome. You 
have sneered at me long enough. What did 
you say ? If your suspicions about the necklace 


Bella-Demonid, 


US 


were true, your patience would not last. We 
shall see ! and you, Captain Goddard, will have 
an opportunity of making your sacrifice for 
friendship. ” 

Then she joined the group at the fireplace. 

That’s right ; go on, — pitch into me,” Kitty 
was saying from her position on the floor by 
Lady Arlingford’s side, ‘‘but all my escapades 
are knocked into fits by Bella-Demonia’s. Mrs. 
Dashton has been telling me about her. Who 
knows her 

“By reputation, everybody,” said Major 
Carteret. 

“ Everybody but the Wild Westerner,” put in 
Briggs; and then, as they looked at him for an 
explanation, — it being prior to Buffalo Bill’s 
visit to London, — he went on: “ Miss Middle- 
ton told me I should have appeared in my 
native costume, — that is to say, beads, feathers, 
wampum, and a tomahawk, — and wanted to 
know if we hunted buffaloes on Broadway and 
Wall Street. I revenged myself by treating her 
to the dear old stand-by about Bears being the 
indigenous animals of those jungles. She didn’t 
know what I meant.” 

“Didn’t I !” said Kitty, indignantly. “But 
I knew you were making an old stock joke, or 
I’d have said I was Irish, just to get in the Bull. ” 

“Mr. Briggs,” said Lady Arlingford, as the 


146 Bella-Dernonia, 

American was about to reply, '^as an old friend 
of Kitty’s let me tell you it is hopeless trying to 
‘sit on’ her. She will not be sat upon.” 

“ I am patient,” replied Briggs. “But may 
I not know more of Miss Middleton’s latest 
shock, Bella-Demonia V 

“I did not suppose,” said Carteret, “that 
there was a man who had not heard of her. To 
tell all her adventures would fill another 
‘ Arabian Nights.’ Strange that her name should 
be unknown to you } No woman is more 
talked about, and personally less known: she 
is more abused and praised than any living 
creature; I never heard her name spoken in any 
society that her defenders were not as earnest 
as her abusers. One thing is sure enough, she 
must be a very remarkably intelligent woman, 
for she certainly puzzles both friends and ene- 
*mies alike.” 

“Did you never meet her.?” asked Briggs. 

“No. I believe she has never been known 
to receive any one on simply social grounds. 
Politics are her sphere, and it is remarkable that 
she never makes a mistake. A man may be 
admitted to her circle who has apparently no 
more value as a politician than I have as a mil- 
liner, but it always turns out that he was the 
one man who was vitally necessary to this or 


Bella-Denionia, 


147 


that plot. Volumes could be filled with stories 
I about her. '' 

‘^But the stories told about. her are generally 
untrue/’ put in Mrs. Dashton. know her 

well. She is one of the most generous creat- 
ures imaginable. If any one in distress wants 
anything, off they go to Bella-Demonia. ” 

As she said this, Arlingford entered the room 
unperceived, accompanied by Prince Schouloff, 
and remained in conversation with him in the 
background. The prince’s tall figure was clad 
in evening dress, the black-and-red ribbon of 
St. Vladimir across his waistcoat, and the jewel 
of the order hanging below his cravat. 

‘‘She must be rich, to live as she does,” re- 
sumed Briggs. 

“ Fabulously,” replied Mrs. Dashton. “I 
must confess, I envy her. A woman with un- 
limited money and brains is rare enough to ex- 
cite that feeling in any one. But we are boring 
Lady Arlingford horribly. You do not care to 
hear of interesting people, do you, Lady Arling. 
ford 

“When they are not reputable, — no,” replied 
her ladyship, quietly. “I am sorry to say I 
cannot so far live up to the times as to admit 
those people to be interesting.” 

“What do you say. Captain Goddard?” said 


148 


Bella-Demonia. 


Mrs. Dashton. ‘'Don't you think Bella- 
Demonia interesting ?" 

“Yes, and no," replied he. “My principal 
feeling is one of pity, — of sorrow. I cannot 
forget that she is a woman, and a woman who 
fights against the world must at best be the 
loser." 

“ The sentiment I should expect to find ex- 
pressed by so brave a soldier as Captain God- 
dard," said Prince Schouloff, “whom," he con- 
tinued, as Lady Arlingford presented them, “I 
have long hoped to meet, and am charmed to 
know. " 

The two men shook hands. 

“May I add to your information," pursued 
the prince. “Much has been said, and much 
has been written, of Bella-Demonia. She is 
relentless in her hate as she is gentle in her 
love. Revenge is her life, — revenge for her 
wrongs. Once hear her speak of them, and 
the name she is known by suits her to per- 
fection." 

“But what is her real name?" asked Briggs. 

“No one knows," replied Carteret. 

“Or no one who knows tells," put in Mrs. 
Dashton. 

“Bella-Demonia never lets anyone -know 
what she wishes to - remain ^ unknown, " con- 
cluded Prince -Schouloff ; then, turning to 


Bella-Demonia, 


149 


Goddard, he added, “I have just come from 
the Duke's, where I heard of your probable 
promotion, — from General Saville. Let me 
congratulate you. " 

^‘Thanks." 

“Will you call on me to-morrow?" 

“Very sorry I can't. I leave London to- 
night. " 

“Well, it is a pleasure deferred. A soldier 
is always the slave of his duty. If I were a 
woman I would never have a soldier lover. I 
am sorry we cannot improve our acquaintance 
now : however, call on me when you return, — 
or in Berlin. I shall be there in a week, and 
I will present you to Bella- Demonia. 

Goddard bowed and rejoined the others. 
The prince looked after him. 

“Perhaps you will not go," said he to him- 
self ; and, taking a telegram from his pocket, 
he read, “ ‘The despatches carried by Captain 
Goddard contain ultimatum ; their detention 
imperative. Explanation and further instruc- 
tions by messenger.' Well, well, life is uncer- 
tain : the young man thinks he will start to- 
night on his mission , — I think he will not. 
Which of us is right, I wonder?" And he 
seated himself by a bookcase and began idly 
turning over the leaves of an album. 

“I say, Mrs. Dash ton," cried Charlie Mid- 


150 


Bella-Deinonia. 


dleton to that lady, who was conversing with 
Lord Arlingford, “you promised to play me a 
game of billiards. Come now, while they’re 
not looking, and we’ll study the game.” 

“ Will you be very good if I do V 

“Awfully !” replied the boy, and started for 
the billiard-room. 

“Will you spare me to this bad child?” said 
she to Arlingford, as she rose. 

“I wish I were the bad child !” returned he, 
and as he spoke he took the hand that hung by 
her side and pressed it. The action was not 
lost upon Lady Arlingford, who happened to 
be looking in their direction, and Goddard, 
noticing her change of color, followed the 
direction of her eyes and grasped the situation. 

Lord Arlingford walked over to Prince 
SchoulofF. 

“I am afraid, prince,” said he, “that you 
find it dull.” 

“Oh, no,” replied Schouloff, looking him 
straight in the eyes. “We shall all be much 
amused, I hope, presently. When one has an 
object to serve, all things are amusing. Er — 
Captain Goddard must soon go. So will I.” 
And he returned to the study of the album. 

“What did' Emily mean, I wonder?” re- 
flected Arlingford, recalled to actualities by the 
prince s words and manaer, “Can it be that 


Bella-De7nonia, 


151 


if she wears the necklace Goddard will resent 
the affront and delay his departure? Ah!'' — 
and a new light broke in upon him, — ‘‘she’s 
right, as usual. We shall see; we shall see." 

“It seems as though when you go," Lady 
Arlingford was saying to Goddard, “I shall be 
at the mercy of that creature. " 

“Cheer up, little woman," he answered. 

‘ ‘ Don't give way. Pretend you don't care : 
it's the worst punishment you could inflict. " 

“Come and see a catastrophe," broke in 
Kitty. “I'm going to spoil sport. I want to 
show you how Mrs. Dashton teaches Charlie 
billiards. Nice game, billiards. Listen ! not 
a sound. Follow me." 

She started towards the billiard-room, ac- 
companied by Carteret and Briggs, and Lady 
Arlingford pursued her to prevent the accom- 
plishment of her vile purpose. Goddard was 
following, when Arlingford, who had been 
watching for the opportunity, stopped him. 

“Look here, Goddard," said he, “you are 
an old friend of Alice's. I wish you’d advise 
her to be more civil to Mrs. Dashton." 

“You must do your own dirty work," replied 
Goddard, hotly; “and, by God, sir, thafsx^Q\. 
the advice I would give your wife, even if I had 
less regard for her than I have ! You ought to 
send that woman away," 


152 


Bella-Demonia. 


‘‘Really, Goddard,’' answered Arlingford, 
haughtily, “upon my word I don’t understand 
you. ” 

“Yes, you do! and you make my position 
doubly difficult by evading the question.” 

“By what right do you dare question my 
actions ?” 

“By the rights of blood and friendship 1” 

“For my wife ! I fail to recognize the right. 
Now look here : I’ve been patient long enough. 
I’m sorry you’re in love with my wife — ” 

“In love! Stop — ” 

“ But she is my wife,” continued Arlingford, 
imperturbably, “and I forbid you to see her 
any more. Do you hear?” 

“ You hound !” cried Goddard, “if I didn’t 
respect her feelings. I’d thrash you in your own 
house.” Then, as the others, attracted by his 
tone, re-entered from the billiard-room, he 
added, “For her sake, no scene now; but 
later on you and I will settle. ” 

‘• What is the matter?” said Lady Arling- 
ford, anxiously, as she came between them. 
“You are quarrelling?” 

“ No, no,” said Goddard; “ only arguing.” 

“A trifle warmly, perhaps,” added Arling- 
ord. “We were disputing [a point at 6cart6. 
We will settle it now, if you like, Goddard, ’ 
ril bet ^^ou a hundred pounds I’m right. 


Bella-Denionia, 


153 


So be it; we shall see.” 

Kitty Middleton, who saw that something 
was amiss, busied herself with Charlie getting 
the card-table ready, whilst Arlingford rapidly 
sorted out the unnecessary cards from the pack 
and threw them on a side-table. Throughout 
the above scene Prince Schoulolf had sat ap- 
parently absorbed in the album he had taken 
up. Arlingford and Goddard seated them- 
selves at the table and began to play. Carteret 
and Briggs were standing in a bow-window, 
discussing American finance. Lady Arlingford 
was alone by the fire, and Kitty sat at the piano 
close beside her, running her fingers lightly 
over the keys. 

As the game began, Mrs. Dashton strolled 
in from the billiard-room. As she did so,'^the 
prince looked at his watch. It was eleven. In 
a quarter of an hour Goddard must be gone. 
Mrs. Dashton came to Arlingford’s side, and 
whispered, — 

“ Well.^ The prince grows impatient. Am 
I to aid you ?” 

‘'Wear the necklace!” said he, desperately. 

“The despatches will be detained: you will 
get the money/' she whispered, and adding to 
herself as she left the room, “Goddard will be 
ruined, and ^ Dashey' will have scored oneT* 


154 


Bella-DejHonia, 


As she went out, Prince Schouloff strolled 
over to Lady Arlingford's side. 

"‘Lady Arlingford,'' said he, do not see 
you much in society now, and you look pale. 
I hope you are not suffering } You should go 
abroad for a time. Lord Arlingford must bring 
you to Nice, and you. Miss Middleton, must 
come also,'' 

“Kitty will not be Miss Middleton for long, 
prince," answered Lady Arlingford for her. 

“Then I shall look forward to welcoming 
Mr. and Mrs. Saville wherever I may be," an- 
swered Schouloff, with a bow to Kitty. 

At this moment Mrs. Dashton entered the 
room, wearing a row of magnificent pearls 
round her neck. Lady Arlingford, catching 
sight of them, started violently, and Prince 
Schouloff said, in the quiet careful tone that 
alone betrayed the fact that he was a for- 
eigner, — . . 

“What beautiful pearls you have, Mrs. 
Dashton 1 Excuse me, but I had not noticed 
them before." 

“Yes," answered she, carelessly, they are 
pretty. A present." 

Goddard turned his head, and his eyes fell 
on the necklace. Lady Arlingford was steady- 
ing herself with difficulty against her chak, 


Bella-Demonia, 


IS5 


‘‘You cowardly blackguard!” he hissed 
across the table at Arlingford. 

“You are my wife's champion, it would 
seem,” sneered he. “ Defend her!” 

“ Come and see the game, prince,” said Mrs. 
Dashton, moving over to the card-table, where 
she was joined by Mr. Briggs and Major Car- 
teret. Meanwhile, Lady Arlingford had cross- 
ed to the table where the useless cards had 
been thrown down, and, taking up one of 
them, — a two of clubs, — wrote on it hurriedly 
in pencil, ''I will not stay another hour in this 
house, I go with you, ” 

Mrs. Dashton had watched her closely. 

“Much on the game?” asked she, carelessly. 

“ For so much excitement,” said the prince, 
“ there should be at least ten thousand pounds!” 

Lady Arlingford came over to Goddard's 
side. There she dropped her handkerchief, 
and as she stooped to pick it up slipped the 
card on which she had written into Goddard’s 
lap. He took it stealthily, unconscious that 
Mrs. Dashton had followed every movement. 

Suddenly the latter stooped and whispered 
in Arlingford’s ear. 

“ What is that you have hidden .?” cries he 
to Goddard. 

“I — I do not understand,” stammered God- 
dard. 


Bella-Demonia, 


156 


‘‘You have a card there, and I demand that 
it be shown!’' 

“ 1 cannot show it/’ 

“I did not suppose you could," sneered 
Arlingford, slipping a card from his hand un- 
observed into that of Mrs. Dashton, and fling- 
ing the rest on the table. “You see I do not 
hold the king , " 

“What do you mean?" cried Goddard, 
growing deathly pale. 

“I mean that I do not play cards with a 
man who cheats ?" howled Arlingford. 

Goddard started to his feet. 

“My God!" he exclaimed, pressing his 
hands to his head. As he rose, an elderly 
military-looking man had entered the room. 
It was General Saville. 

“Well, how are you all?" he exclaimed, 
comprehensively. “ Autyn, I bring you good 
news, my boy. To-night’s mission will be 
your last. I have gained my point with the 
Duke, and he has confirmed your staff-appoint- 
ment. ’’ Then, observing for the first time the 
dead silence and the dismayed faces round him, 
he continued, — 

“What is the matter? Why don’t you 
speak, some of you 

“I repeat," said Arlingford, with deadly 
distinctness, “ your methods are not such as to 


Bella-Demonia, 


157 


permit gentlemen to play cards with you, and 
I must desire that you leave this house at 
once. '' 

‘‘ Arlingford,'' cried General Saville, ‘‘how 
dare you ! You must be mad. I demand an 
explanation.'' 

“Captain Goddard holds a card that was not 
dealt to him, which he refuses to show, and 
which I assert is the king of clubs. " 

“Good heavens ! Deny it, Aubyn: tell him 
he lies !" 

“Mrs. Dashton and Prince SchoulofF also 
saw him take the card from his lap," continued 
Arlingford, calmly. 

“Answer !" thundered the general, growing 
purple. 

“ It is a lie, " said Goddard, quietly. 

“Then show the card," said Arlingford. 

“Yes, show the card," cried the general. 

“ I cannot. " - 

A dead silence fell in the room. It \vas 
broken by the sound of a fall. Unobserved, 
during the above scene Lady Arlingford had 
been struggling to speak. An iron grip seemed 
to be upon her throat, and she struggled in 
vain. As Goddard spoke, she fell senseless to 
the floor. 

“Captain Goddard," said General Saville, 
stiffly, “it will be obvious to you that there is 


1S8 


Bella-Demonia. 


only one course for you to pursue. I will save 
you the trouble of resigning your commission, 
and your diplomatic post is vacant. You will 
take your name from your Club lists to-mor- 
row, and — God ! boy,” concluded the old gen- 
tleman, all but breaking down, ‘^Td sooner 
you'd been a murderer than a black-leg.” 

General Saville turned, and, seeing Schou- 
lofF, went towards him, Goddard looked round 
him a moment, and, seeing even Kitty's face 
averted as she bent over Lady Arlingford, ex- 
claimed, — 

‘‘Ruined ! God help me !” 

And he rushed from the room. 

An hour later, in the little Mayfair drawing- 
room Prince Schouloff paid over to Mrs. 
Bradley Dashton ten thousand pounds in 
Bank-of-England notes. 

Not a word was said on either side. 


BOOK 111. 


CHAPTER I. 

IN A POLITICAL OBSERVATORY. 

The political crisis which opened the year 
1876 with the “ Andrassy Note closed it with 
the Conference at Constantinople of January, 
1877. By the middle of that month the Cabi- 
nets of Europe had realized the fact that the 
Conference had been met by a rejection of its 
proposals on the part of the Sublime Porte, 
and at the end of March the Six Powers for- 
warded to the Sultan their ultimatum in the 
form of a Protocol. Turkey, however, pur- 
sued her time-honored policy of masterly in- 
activity, and on the 24th of April Europe was 
startled by the news that Russia had declared 
war against the Sultan in defence of the Chris- 
tian populations of the Balkan Peninsula, had 
crossed the Pruth into Roumania, which had 
promptly declared itself on the side of the 
Muscovite, and had entered Asia Minor at 
Batoum, Kars, and Bayazid. 


1 6 o Bella-Demonia. 

The only explanation vouchsafed to Europe 
was contained in the circular note of Prince 
Gortschakoff, and the Powers, after entering 
their formal protest, assumed a position of 
armed neutrality. 

The campaign opened, as is familiar to the 
student of modern history, with a series of 
Russian successes both in Europe and Asia. 
General Gourko crossed the Danube without 
opposition in June, and invested Tirnova on 
the 7th of July, preparatory to crossing the Bal- 
kans at Yeni Saghra five days later with a fly- 
ing column. It was not till then that Russia 
saw the mistake she had made in overlooking 
Plevna, and turned in that direction to find it 
occupied and fortified by the greatest general of 
the Ottoman forces, Osman Pasha. On the 20th 
and on the 31st of July two desperate assaults 
of this position resulted in the total defeat of the 
Russian arms, and Gourko was driven back be- 
yond the Balkans, whilst in Asia Moukhtar 
Pasha gained his first decisive victory at Kars. 

Thus, in August, 1877, ^vhen our story re- 
opens, the Muscovite advance had received a 
temporary, but serious check. Todleben had 
been called to the investment of Plevna, and 
the nations looked at one another with appre- 
hensive glances as they asked themselves and 
one another, ‘‘What next.^^” 


Bella-Demon ia. 


i6i 

Meanwhile, the principal post of observa- 
tion established by Russia in the Balkans was 
at the village of Deve-kiui, on the road from 
Eski Saghra to Adrianople, where, snugly es- 
tablished in the Villa Kristov Hisar, Prince 
Schouloff and Baroness Altdorff anxiously 
watched the successive turns which events 
were taking. 

A few weeks before this they had been joined 
by Mrs. Bradley Dashton, who since we parted 
from her in London had suffered a series of 
reverses in the prosecution of her plans. In- 
deed, important events and changes had taken 
place in the lives of most of the actors in the 
drama with which we are concerned, all result- 
ing directly and indirectly from the tragedy en- 
acted at Arlingford House on the night that 
saw the successful issue of the plot concocted 
against Captain Aubyn Goddard. 

For weeks Lady Arlingford had lain uncon- 
scious between life and death. In her delirium 
she had raved much about that fatal evening, 
but her utterances had been ascribed to the 
state of her brain ; and when she recovered 
from the blow and emerged into the light of 
reason, Goddard was to all intents and pur- 
poses lost to the world. As soon as she could 
be moved, Alice Arlingford had been taken to 
her mother’s house in Berkeley Square, and 


i 62 


Bella-Demonia, 


here Kitty Middleton had been her only confi- 
dante. To her she had told the whole dismal 
story as soon as she was sufficiently herself to 
do so, and both agreed that to publish the 
facts now, in the absence of Goddard, would 
be to lay themselves open to the charge of 
having invented the story to clear the man 
whom Arlingford had — though vainly — tried to 
brand as his wife's lover. So they had waited 
on in the hope that Goddard might be heard 
of again, and that he might be summoned 
home to assist in his own exculpation from the 
charges brought against him by the Earl 
Arlingford, Mrs. Dashton, and Major Homer 
Carteret. 

One step, however, had been taken which 
the events of the evening and the episode of 
the necklace has rendered inevitable : this was 
the divorce of the Earl and Countess of Arling- 
jford, which went by default in the absence of 
’his lordship and upon the admissions of Mrs. 
Dashton. Soon after the disappearance of 
Goddard, Arlingford had found that the glan- 
ces bestowed upon him in club-rooms, never 
of the warmest, had now become arctic in their 
frigidity. He found that men refused to hear 
the name of Aubyn Goddard spoken by his 
lips, and that his efforts to deepen the cloud 
which rested over the ex Queen's Messenger 


Bella-Demonia, 


163 


were practically abortive. Under these cir- 
cumstances his lordship had betaken himself 
to the more congenial atmosphere of Nice and 
Monte Carlo, whither Mrs. Dashton had shortly 
after followed him, and, after passing six 
months of varied fortune at the tables, found 
himself in the, to him, familiar predicament of 
being “cleaned out.'" It was then that the 
summons of Prince Schouloff had seemed to 
Mrs. Dashton laden with the pleasant perfume 
of hope, and, obeying it, armed with passes 
through the Russian lines, she had joined the 
Prince and Bella-Demonia in their political 
observatory, anxious to serve the Chief of Po- 
lice for the furtherance of her own plans, 
which seemed to have encountered a serious 
and abiding check. 

The divorce of the Countess of Arlingford 
and the marriage of Kitty Middleton to Dick 
Saville had taken place almost simultaneously, 
and thus a powerful ally had joined the cam- 
paign for the rehabilitation of Aubyn Goddard. 

Of Goddard himself the news had been at 
first scanty, then depressing, and finally over- 
whelming. What might have been the effect 
on European history had he started on that fa- 
tal night with his despatches, it is not for us 
to conjecture. He had reached Charing Cross 
five minutes too late, and had laid his de- 


164 


Bella-Demonia, 


spatches with his resignation on his chief s table 
at eight o’clock on the following morning, and 
they had left London with another messenger 
by the ten-o’clock mail. Later in the day he' 
had had a long interview with General Saville, 
from which the sturdy old warrior had emerged 
with something very like a tear in the one eye 
that active service had left him, and had em- 
phatically remarked to a Club crony, — 

'^Damn the boy! I love and admire him 
more than ever. He won’t tell me anything 
about it, but I’ll swear” — which he did with 
unction — *Hhat a more honorable fellow never 
lived. Some day we shall get to the bottom 
of this miserable affair ; meanwhile, we can 
only wait and hope for the best.” 

General Saville took upon himself to lay 
Goddard’s resignations, with a statement of the 
circumstances, before the committees of his 
various clubs, and those illustrious bodies had 
decided to hold his membership in abeyance, 
pending an inquiry and explanation. 

On the following day Goddard had started 
for America, bound for a ranch owned by 
General Saville in Dakota Territory. A few 
months later, one of the periodical revolutions 
having eventuated in Central America, God- 
dard’s soldier instinct overcame him, and he 
had placed himself at the head of a regiment 


Bella-Demonia, 


165 

of filibuster os, on the side of the existing gov- 
ernment. In one of the decisive engagements 
he had performed deeds of unheard-of valor, 
and had been reported dead, — killed by a stray 
shot at the moment of victory, — and so he had 
1 gone out of this history, and his record was to 
to all intents and purposes closed. 

Things were in this condition when our story 
reopens at the Villa Kristov Hisar in Bulgaria, 
in the month of August, 1877. 

Prince Schouloff sat in his study, which 
looked out upon the veranda of the villa, going 
over a bundle of despatches, and ever and anon 
consulting a map that lay before him. At his 
elbow stood his private secretary, Dmitri Kera- 
tieff, awaiting the attention of his chief 

‘‘Well,” said the prince, looking up from 
his map, “what have you to report.? ” 

“Mrs. Dashton tried, to open the mail-bag 
early this morning : she said she had enclosed 
a letter by mistake. I opened it for her : there 
was no letter of hers in the bag. Madame 
von Altdorff sent a dispatch by her courier- 
secretary before daylight.” 

“Ah ! Know you its contents.? ” 

“ No, Excellency. I am more useful alive 
than dead, and I never question the incom- 
ing or outgoing of Rodia Pouschkoff.” 

The secretary laughed as he spoke, and 


i66 


Bella-Dernonia. 


Schoulolf nodded his head gravely but approv- 
ingly. 

‘‘Did you see him start } '' 

“Yes, Excellency. He took the direction 
of Eski Saghra.'' 

“ He has not returned ? '' 

“Not yet.'' 

‘ ‘ Anything else .? " 

“Mrs. Dashton bade me present her com- 
pliments and say that she desired to speak with 
your Excellency as soon as you should be at 
leisure." 

“Where is she now ? " 

“On the terrace." 

“Ask her to honor me with a visit, here 
and now. " 

The secretary retired. 

“Ah, Emily Dashton," soliloquized the 
prince, “you are unable to control your curi- 
osity ; you are madly eager to know why I sent 
for you. Take care ! You are an excellent 
servant, but you can never direct. Examine 
my mail-bag ! how rococo ! The method has 
neither novelty nor ingenuity to recommend it, 
and still, undaunted, you play your little, your 
very little, tricks." 

And Prince Schouloff, leaning back in his 
chair, laughed aloud, as Mrs. Dashton ap- 
peared at the French window leading out upon 
the terrace. 


Bella-Denionia. 


167 


‘‘Alone and amused said she, looking at 
him from the window. “Happy man ! '' 

“Sensible people,'" replied Schouloff, never 
depend upon any one for anything, not even 
for their amusement." 

“As usual, your sentiment is flawless. But 
are you sure you are as independent as you 
think .? " 

“ It has been the study of my life to be so." 

“And, like most students, you have absorbed 
yourself so much in the study of others that 
you have left no time to study yourself. You 
leave that for fools like me." 

“Do you find me interesting.?" 

“Er — um — ye-es. But not so original as I 
expected." 

“Well," said Schouloff, in the altered tone 
of a man desirous of changing the subject, “I 
will try to do better. So much for your amuse- 
ment. Now for your business. I understand 
you wished to speak to me ? " 

“Yes," answered Mrs. Dashton, her man- 
ner also altering. “I am not satisfied with 
the way things have turned out. You offered 
to help me, and I carried out my part of the 
bargain. I knew that when Lady Arlingford 
saw her pearls on my neck she would do some- 
thing foolish that would detain Goddard. She 
did more ; but I am no nearer the realization 


Bella-Demonia, 


1 68 

of my hopes. I am getting tired of scheming, 
and want rest.'' 

‘ ‘ Why reproach me with — pardon me ! — your 
own folly } I wished Captain Goddard detained, 
and was willing to pay for it. You undertook 
to effect the delay, and received the payment 
for so doing, — an enormous sum : is it not so? 
It is with Lord ArlingTord you are not satisfied, 
not with me. Come, be frank ; what did he 
pi;omise you? You do not answer. Well, he 
promised that if you would help him, he would 
drive Lady Arlingford to claim a divorce, and 
would then marry you. The first he has done ; 
the second he has not." 

‘‘How do you know this?" 

“I did not know ; but you betray your own 
secrets. But your ambition is a wrong one. 
As a woman you are charming, as a wife you 
would be stupid." 

“ Do you suppose," broke out the woman 
impetuously, “ that because I have led a rough 
life I have no feeling ? You have guessed half 
the situation, so hear it all. I am fond of Jack 
Arlingford. I know he's a bad lot ; perhaps 
that’s why I like him : I'm not such a very 
good lot myself! — and good people make me 
angry. He cares for me, I believe, and if 
everything had not gone so contrary, I think 
he would have kept his promise • but after the 


Bella- Demonia, 


169 


divorce everything went so wrong that I was 
obliged to leave London. I joined him in 
Nice, and now he is broke there, and cannot 
move a step till he gets money. '' 

Prince Schouloff smiled. 

“Shall I prove to you,'*’ he said, “that he 
will not keep his word — even so far as he can — 
to you V 

“How.? Do you mean that he does not 
really care for me.? If I thought that — \” 

“Lord Arlingford is at this moment trying 
to marry a rich American, a cousin of the Mr. 
Briggs whom we met at his house. He cares 
for nothing save gambling, and his affection for 
you will be regulated by the amount you sub- 
scribe to the fund. Now, let me know the 
amount necessary to — ^your happiness, and try 
to find out for me accurate details as to the 
death of Captain Goddard. I am much in- 
terested in him.” 

“In Goddard.? Where did you lose sight 
of him.? Let me see: where did you lose 
sight of him .? I think I remember. After the 
scandal he started for Dakota, for a ranch be- 
longing to General Saville. There the soldier 
got the better of him, and he joined that Cen- 
tral American revolution, and was reported 
dead. Is that right ?” 

“Perfectly: you are accuracy and clearness 


I/O 


Bella- Demonia, 


to perfection, as far as our information goes; 
but I should like the details. Now, I have a 
charming villa at Mentone, of which I should 
like to make a wedding-present to the bride 
who can give me accurate details of Captain 
Goddard's death. The certificate of the mar- 
riage is not necessary to secure the gift." 

‘‘Which means, translated — " 

“What you please ! Mrs. Dashton, you are 
a clever woman, especially so where the finesse 
of a woman's nature is concerned: witness for 
instance, your instinct in Lady Arlingford's 
case, where you judged exactly the moment to 
strike. I should value your opinion just now. 
Erghem ! I see a great change in Bella-De- 
monia. She takes no interest in anything. I 
have sought in vain the reason: can you help 
me 

“You once said, ‘ Bella-Demonia never 
allows any one to know what she wishes to 
remain unknown.' That is my answer 
I am a woman of fairly strong nerve; but ask 
Bella-Demonia a question about herself.?^ — 
excuse me ! See," continued she, rising, and 
moving to the window, “there she is on the 
terrace. She looks gentle enough; but when 
she chooses to freeze you, her cold stare of 
wonder at your audacity would daunt a 
braver woman than L But be sure that if I 


Bella-Dcmoiiia. 


can help you I will. She is coming this way. 
Shall I go r 

Not yet. See if her manner helps you.'' 

And the prince walked to the window to 
meet the object of his recent conversation. 

“Who, to see her sweet soft face," thought 

he, “would believe that she could be so hard 

• 1 

to conquer.? Yet for close upon a year I have 
fluttered like a moth in vain around the flame 
of her fascination, — I, Alexis Schouloif !'* 

Two quickly successive reports, the boom of 
a distant gun, reverberated dully on the air, as 
the Baroness Altdorff stepped into the room, 
giving her hand to Prince Schouloff* as she did 
so. 

“Those were the cannon of Eski Saghra, 
prince. It is true, then, that the Flying Legion 
has arrived in the neighborhood 

“Such are my last instructions, baroness," 
returned the prince, gravely, looking at his 
watch. 

“What a picture you made there, baron- 
ess!" put in Mrs. Dashton at this point, — “a 
living embodiment of tranquil power in repose. 
Dreaming pleasant things, I judge by your ex- 
pression. You are a true subject for an artist." 

“You evidently have not remarked, Mrs. 
Dashton," interrupted Bella-Demonia, icily, 
“that I do not like flattery. From a wom^n 




Bella-Demonia. 


it means either nothing or a great deal too 
much. Prince, I shall have, I think, great 
news for you before the afternoon is over. 
Mrs. Dashton, you have not yet visited me in 
my own apartments: you must come and see 
me there. The prince is good enough to let 
me have an entire wing to myself, where no one 
ever comes save at my request.'' 

shall look forward to coming and seeing 
you chez vous. I have so much yet to say to 
you and ask you." 

''You will find me a bad gossip — " 

" But I will do all that, and I am positively 
dying for a good long talk. This place, with 
all respect to Prince SchoulofF, is so far from 
civilization! Upon my word, it's as hard to 
get here as — as — as it was for poor Goddard to 
get himself killed. " 

She said the last words after a hesitation, as 
if she had been searching vainly for a simile. 
As she concluded, Bella- Demonia turned 
deathly white, but controlled herself with a 
violent effort which did not escape the narrow 
observation of Schouloff. 

'‘What a singular comparison to make 1" 
said she, at last. 

"Perhaps it was," said Mrs. Dashton, re- 
.flectively. "I don’t know what brought him 
to my mind at that moment. Strange break, 


Bella^Demonia, 


173 


his, — a man who was apparently just reaching 
the zenith of his career, or, if not quite that, 
with every promise for the future, to ruin him- 
self so completely ! — it is inconceivable. But 
why should I wander on so, about a stranger 
to you ? — but then, you see, I knew him so 
well. ” 

“You knew him?’' put in Bella-Demonia, 
eagerly ; then, recovering herself once more, 
she added, “ What was the name ?” 

“Aubyn Goddard. I’ll tell you all about it 
some day, when I come to see you in your 
own rooms.” 

“That will be very soon,” said Prince Schou- 
loff to himself. Then he added aloud to Bella- 
Demonia, “You are interested, baroness?” 

“Naturally! A man who ruins himself at 
the very moment that his prospects seemed most 
bright must have had the usual cause, — a 
woman Hence the story must be at least 
amusing. ” 

“Then you believe,” said the prince, “ that 
when a man is ruined, a woman is always the 
cause. Oh, fie I” 

“ Not at all, in the way you put it. A man 
may be ruined by many causes ; but when he 
brings about his own ruin it is pretty safe to as- 
sume that there is a woman.” 

“Well,” said Schouloff, “I will argue that 
point later.” 


*74 


Bella-Demonia, 


“It must be nearly time our bold travellers 
arrived. I must watch from the terrace for 
them, in case there be any young man in the 
party whom I can make my own. Who are 
these visitors, prince V 

“They shall announce themselves to you, 
Mrs. Dashton.'' 

“Well, no doubt it's some pleasant surprise 
you have in store for me. I won't be inquisi- 
tive. I hope I don't shock you, baroness 

“I shocked !" returned Bella-Demonia, in 
an accent of ironical surprise, “ I, — the byword 
of Europe ! My right to censure or extol was 
stolen from me years ago." 

“And /don't believe I ever ^<2/ that right. 
Well, au revoir. I must go and get ready." 

And Mrs. Dashton disappeared from the 
room with a laugh. 

“ Who are these visitors, prince said Bella- 
^Demonia, when she had gone. “You have 
told me nothing." 

“Because there was nothing to tell, till this 
morning. A Mr. Saville and his wife, — charm- 
ing people: they will interest you. They want 
to see me, — and you, — and, arriving at the 
frontier two days since, applied to me for passes 
through the lines. They arrived at Eski Saghra 
last night, and are coming on this morning. 
The proximity of the Flying Legion has made 
me nervous about them." 


1/5 


Bella-Dcmoiiia. 

Bella-Demonia dismissed the subject with a 
little shrug. 

Tell me/' said she, ‘‘ why did you ask that 
woman, Mrs. Dashton, here ?" 

‘'Because I thought she would amuse you." 

“ Because you wanted her to find out some- 
thing for you, from me, — from vie T 

“If you know, why ask?" 

“To give you a chance of being honest with 
me. You know I hate lies and the cowardice 
that begets them. Ask vie what you want to 
know. Have I ever been wanting in courage 
to speak ?" 

“You are irritable, baroness; yet I have 
been patient, and not — not ungenerous ?" 

“Forgive me, if, in the weariness I feel, I 
forget how much I owe you. When I first 
sought you I was seeking distraction : you 
offered me politics, absorbing as heart or brain 
could desire. I had nothing to live for till you 
brought me within range of your vast world of 
schemes. By degrees the fascination of your 
power gained on me. To see great nations 
tremble or rejoice, to see life or death meted 
out, was the breath of life to me. For years of 
feverish oblivion I have to thank you, and I 
do. But I am still a woman, and my very 
being is weary. See the traces !" As she spoke, 
she turned to the mirror over the mantel-shelf, 


\*]b 


Bella-Demonia . 


and leaned upon it. “If only my revenge had 
not been torn from me, 1 would have served an 
eternity. If heaven had but been just to me 
“ My hope,” said the Russian, gently, “has 
been to bring you more than oblivion. Must 
that hope always be vain Will you never for- 
get the cares, the sombre side of life, and re- 
member but the glowing sunshine which is 
yours by right of love V 

He had risen and approached her as he 
spoke. She drew away, as she said, — 

“I thought our compact was clear. Must I 
remind you ! When I accepted your service, 
I knew that I risked my life in a service of 
danger; that life I sold you, — if need should 
come, my death; but I did not sell you myself, ’' 
“No, that you only give. Oh, it is only 
‘ Bella-Demonia ' who is dead to love : to find 
mercy, the mother of love, one must appeal to 
charity. ‘Carita,' — it is a sweet name, and I 

would call you by it.” 

“The name was my mother's : it is sacred 
to me. But come ! do not let us speak in 
riddles. You know some part of my secret, 
you would know more. I tell you frankly 
you will learn nothing through that woman. 
You have the better chance. Question me ! 
I may reserve what I like, but I will not lie.” 

For an instant the two stood silently looking 
at each other, and then the prince spoke. 


Bella-bemonia. 


177 


^‘Did you care for this man Goddard?'' 
said he. 

With my whole soul !" 

‘'Why did you never speak of him ?" 

“That which lies near the heart is far from 
the lips." 

‘ ‘ Do you know what has become of him ?" 

“He is dead, if that woman spoke true. 
Well, so much the better for you and for your 
work. You will find me the better destroyer 
now that the one touch of womanhood is laid 
at rest forever. Direct, and I will execute. 
Let me think only of wrongs and the blight 
they bring. I told you I would give you news. 
I have news for you, — brave news." 

“Tell me, what is it?" 

“The Russian arms have received a serious 
check. For the last month your best-laid plans 
of campaign have been frustrated by the unerr- 
ing precision of the movements of this Flying 
Legion of which we hear so much and see so 
little : is it not so ?" 

‘ * Perfectly. The latest despatches of Skobe- 
lelf are to that effect. " 

“Well, the chief of the Flying Legion, Beyaz 
Murad Bey, will be in my power to-night. 
What is his capture worth ?" 

“ Murad here ! It cannot be possible !" 

'['he prince rose to his feet and commenced 


178 


Bella-Demoma. 


pacing up and down the room. The Baroness 
Altdorff smiled as she leaned back in her chair. 

‘‘Is that a reflection.?'' said she. “You are 
not complimentary to my powers of fascina- 
tion, to say nothing of my skill as a diplomatist, 
— some say ‘ decoy. ' " 

“You are in earnest !" exclaimed Schouloft', 
coming to a full stop before her. 

“Perfectly. I came to the conclusion that 
he must be taken out of your way. But for 
him, we should be in possession of the Shipka 
Pass. He is advancing upon Plevna. Once 
let him join Osman, and we shall see what the 
Grand Duke, Todleben, and Skobeleff can do, 
— such a three against such a two ! I shall re- 
move him, this terror, Beyaz Murad, — Murad 
Bey." 

“Not easy — " 

“No, not easy, but — Well, never mind my 
plan of action : the result is all that you need 
know. Admit that I chose our location here 
with forethought, three months before hostilities 
commenced. After much delicate work, I have 
caused the report to reach the Chief that in 
consequence of your weakness — of you?' weak- 
ness !" — and she laughed a little — “I was in 
possession of important strategic secrets, that I 
had expressed great admiration of his bravery 
and was impressionable, — wipressionahle ! — in 


Bella-De^nonia. 1 70 

short, that he might learn all I knew with a 
1 little trouble. The Flying Legion encamped 
last night near Eski Saghra. They are short of 
provisions, and knowledge of our movements 
• is imperative. Well, by my arrangement he 
has laid a trap for me into which he will fall 
himself’ 

Prince Schouloffs eyes glowed with admira- 
tion. 

“By St. Nicholas ! ingenious as only Bella- 
Demonia could be I Perhaps this is the only 
one line that could have spared him. What 
marvellous tact ! what instinct ! Ah ! if you 
are not for me, what a pity you were not born 
a man ! You are sure he will come?” 

“I await only a letter by my courier-secretary 
Rodia, to confirm what I say.” 

“Tell me, how were you inspired to such a 
glorious plan ?” 

“I wanted to earn your supreme gratitude, 
and, so, my freedom. I had hoped — till she 
dispelled my dream — But never mind : since 
he is lost to me, no danger can appall me. I 
thought for a brief hour that I might know 
the joys denied me and given to others ; but 
no I like the fabled Jew, so must my pilgrimage 
last forever. No peace ! no love ! naught that 
woman counts her right. Well, so be it !” 

She covered her face with her hands as she be- 


i8o 


Bella-Demonla, 


came silent, and the interview was interrupted 
by the entrance of a servant bearing two cards. 

“Ah, baroness,'' said Schouloff, as he read 
the names of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Saville, 

‘ ‘ our expected guests are here. They will amuse . 
you. Mr. Saville belongs to a very good family, 
and finished his eccentric career by marrying an 
eccentric young lady, — a Miss Middleton. They 
call them “The Shocks;" and we are indeed 
fortunate that they arrive so opportunely to en- 
liven us." 

Then turning to the servant, he said, — 

“Inform Mr. and Mrs. Saville that Prince 
Schouloff and the Baroness Altdorff will wait 
upon them immediately in the hall." 


Bella-Demon ia. 


i8i 


CHAPTER IL 

DICK SAVILLE. 

Dick Saville was an excellent specimen of 
the young Englishman whose personal qualities 
cause him to be universally dubbed “a devil- 
ish good fellow/' Only son of General Saville, 
he had elected not to follow the profession of 
arms, but become Aubyn Goddard’s chum at 
Oxford, where, with widely divergent tastes, 
they were as inseparable as circumstances would 
permit. Goddard had been a reading man 
and an athlete, Saville had been an athlete, but 
there their similarity of pursuits had ended. 
Notwithstanding his multifarious escapades, 
indulged in with the object of emblazoning the 
gray old university town a lively heraldic guleSy 
Dick Saville was an inveterate favorite with the 
dons, and even in that paradise for women 
Dick suffered a positive embarrassment of at- 
tentions from the petticoated inhabitants of his 
alma mater. Still, the process of compelling an 
objectionable proctor and his bull-dog to take 
a midnight bath in the college fountain and 
proceed home in each other’s clothes turned 


i 82 


Bella-Demonia, 


inside out is not calculated to act as an ex- 
ample of discipline to undergraduates, and 
Dick Saville returned to the bosom of his 
father, — who, I regret to say, roared with de- 
light, — to spare the authorities the heart-rend- 
ing task of ‘^sending him down^' covered with 
ignominy and unpaid bills. 

At the premature close of his academic career 
Dick started for the Cape en route for Seringa- 
patam, and, having returned home via India 
and Egypt, met Kitty Middleton at a dance at 
Lady Arlingford’s. 

In five minutes Dick realized that he had 
met that other self,’' and historians tell us 
that Kitty became kissed. This duty per- 
formed, he started for Madagascar en route for 
Persia and Russia, with two flannel shirts, a 
tooth-brush, and a photograph of Kitty. He 
escaped from a horde of Koords with nothing 
but a pair of tattered trousers and the photo- 
graph — also tattered— of Kitty, and when he 
told her of his escapes observed that she grew 
dreadfully white and didn’t laugh at or abuse 
him for a whole quarter of an hour. An- 
nouncing his intention of starting for New 
York en route ioi Japan and China, Kitty put 
her foot down firmly,, and asked what was the 
maximum of luggage that would be allowed 
to take. Dick argued that she would have to 


Bella-Demonia, 


183 


camp in very rough places, to which Kitty re- 
plied that so long as he took a thick rug and 
plenty of quinine she didn't care. And so at 
the end of the season of 1877 Morning 
announced that at St. Peter's, Eaton Square, 
Richard Arthur Chenevix Saville, son of Gen- 
eral Sir Richard Saville, V.C. , K.C. B., had 
married Catherine Maude, daughter of the late 
Sir Cyrus Middleton, K.C.M.G. It was a 
‘"marriage," not a “wedding,'’ and Mr. and 
Mrs. Saville started for Paris and Monte Carlo 
with one object alone in view, — to wit, the ex- 
oneration of Goddard. 

So long as there was any hope of Goddard's 
return, Dick had agreed with Kitty and Lady 
Arlingford that they must wait for his assistance 
to this end; but now that he was dead, Dick 
announced his intention of taking the matter 
into his own hands and extorting a confession 
from Arlingford and Mrs. Dash ton. Dick was 
no fool. The presence of Prince Schouloff on 
that fatal night, the delay of Goddard’s all-im- 
portant despatches, and the immediately sub- 
sequent clearance of Arlingford’s most pressing 
liabilities had given him a clue, and when he 
found that nothing was to be done with Arling- 
ford or the Dashton, he wrote for passes to 
Prince Schouloff, whom he personally knew, 
on the plea that he was anxious to pay a conn- 


1 84 


Bella-Denwnia, 


try-house visit in the middle of the seat of war. 

Thus on this eventful afternoon Mr. and 
Mrs. Dick Saville found themselves in the hall 
of the Villa Kristov Hisar at Deve-kiui, near 
Eski Saghra, awaiting the appearance of their 
host and hostess. 

They had not long to wait before Schouloff 
appeared with Bella-Demonia. 

Schouloff greeted Saville and his wife warmly. 

'^Let me present you/’ said he, to the 
Baroness Altdorff, Mrs. Saville, — Mr. Saville.’' 

“ I am charmed to see you,” said the baron- 
ess. “We owe a great debt to Providence for 
having brought you safely to us. I have 
ordered some tea immediately. I learnt the 
custom in England and Russia, and never en- 
joy it so much as when I am far from civiliza- 
tion.” - 

“ It’s contrast that gives the charm to e\’'ery- 
thing,” replied Kitty.. ‘ ‘ Dick and I pass our 
lives in search of it. It was to find a contrast 
to the deadly respectable that made us become 
so disreputable; You know, . we are; called 
‘ The' Shocks ’ because we keep people in a 
continual state of excitement. I tell them it’s 
good for their health. They probably, consider 
it heroic treatment; but it’s quite necessary for 
some complaints,” .. . .. 

“ For ' instance queried Bella-Demonia, 
who \yas equally astonished and amused. 


Bella-Denion ia. 


185 


“ Dulness and stupidity ! There is no doubt 
we are good for our own people, but better 
still for the world. Nothing amuses Dick and 
me so much as to devise some awful escapade, 
— that is, what the world is pleased to consider 
awful. Time after time we say, ‘ This is sure 
to settle us: we shall be ostracized, — kicked 
out.’ Not a bit of good. Dick’s too rich: 
people look upon it as a new and charming 
eccentricity, and that’s all. But I must be 
boring you dreadfully. Somebody must stop 
me talking, or I shall go on forever. *’ 

“Don’t stop!” exclaimed Bella- Demonia : 
“you are more than delicious. I will only 
interrupt you for a moment, to ask how and by 
what accident you are here.” 

“By no accident,” said Dick Saville. “We 
came to find you, baroness, and Prince Schou- 
lofr:” 

“Indeed.? You surprise me; What can we 
do for you .?” ■ 

‘^Mrs. Saville has been telling you of ^ome 
of our follies,” answered Dick. “How long 
we should have continued to afford amusement 
to our friends is uncertain, because an event 
occurred which changed the current of my 
idiocy.’* - 

“Well, we won’t contradict you,” said Bella- 
Demonia, -it is- so refreshing to hear you dis- 


Bella-Demonia, 


1 86 

play your superior intelligence in your own 
way.” 

^ - Intelligence ! I am trying to convince you, 
baroness, that I am a fool.” 

‘‘I am afraid you are not succeeding very 
well. Still, I would not interfere with the 
amusement of any living creature : so I promise 
to assume anything you please, if you promise 
to continue your story.” 

“Oh, Dick doesn’t need any inducement to 
talk,” put in Kitty: “he runs me very close, 
and Tve killed several people.” 

“The last time we met, Mrs. Saville,” said 
Prince Schouloff, “I tried to make you promise 
to visit me at Nice. I did not expect that you 
would ever wander so far from the world as to 
make that visit here. But I am none the less 
indebted to you, believe me.” 

“You are too good, prince. It is to remind 
you of the time of which you speak that we 
have come to take you by storm. ” 

‘'Since you have come so far to find us, I 
presume, like the Baroness Altdorff, that there 
is some service we may render you. For my- 
self, pray command me; and I am sure that 
the baroness feels with me.” 

“Most assuredly.” said Bella-Demonia. 

“ Well, then,” said Dick Saville, since I can- 
not convince you that I deserve to be called a 


Bella-Demonia. 


187 


fool for my pains, let me at least convince you 
that I can be a hard-working friend ; and it is 
on behalf of that friendship that I have come 
in search of certain information and assistance. 
The prince has spoken of his last meeting with 
Mrs. Saville. On that occasion a tragedy was 
enacted which ruined the career of the best fel- 
low that ever lived. I speak of Aubyn God- 
dard." 

'‘Goddard !" The speaker was Bella-De- 
monia, who leaned forward, her eyes eagerly 
fixed on Dick’s ugly but sympathetic face. 

“Doubtless you, madame," said Kitty, 
“heard of the affair. I was present. It was 
terrible." 

The Baroness Altdorff bowed her head in 
silence. 

“.It is to clear my dead friend’s memory 
from a foul stigma,’’ continued Saville, “that 
I have determined to prove his accusers guilty 
of the vilest conspiracy ever formed. Captain 
Goddard was accused of cheating at cards at 
the house of Lord Arlingford. ’’ 

“But surely," put in Bella-Demonia, “ it 
must have been easy for Captain Goddard to 
disprove the accusation 

“There is the mystery. On investigation, 
there is no doubt that he had a card in his pos- 
session which he refuaed to shbw. This, in 


i88 


Bella-Demonia, 


face of the fact that the king of trumps — they 
were playing ecarte — was not to be found, gave 
color to the charge ; though everyone knew 
that Arlingford was quite qapable of managing 
the cards well enough, even if he had been un- 
aided by confederates : he had two on that oc- 
casion, a Major Carteret and his sister, Mrs. 
Bradley Dashton.” 

“ Mrs. Dashton said Bella-Demonia. ‘^She 
is in the house at this moment.” 

‘^Here! now?” answered Saville. ‘^Mayl 
ask you to say nothing of my mission, and al- 
low me to make my requests of you before I 
meet her?” 

will see that no one enters,” said the 
prince, rising, and moving towards the door. 
As he passed Bella. Demonia he said, in an 
undertone, *‘1 have given orders to Kapiodo- 
vitch to have an escort ready to receive our 
visitor of this evening. ” 

*^You make a grave charge against this Lord 
Arlingford,” said she to Dick Saville. 

“I am sure of my facts, Lowever — morally 
sure. But proof to establish those facts is abso- 
lutely necessary. I believe that you, madame, 
and Prince Schouloff, can help me/ 

'M? but I never heard of Lord iVrlingford.” 
'‘It is of Jack Vyvian Fane’s career in St, 
Petersburg that I wish information,” 


Bella-Demonia. 


189 


Vyvian Fane I” 

It was more a gasp than an exclamation that 
broke from the Baroness AltdorfF as she spoke 
the words. Prince SchoulofF sat narrowdy 
watching her, a shade of perplexity enveloping 
his brow. 

‘‘You remember him.?’' asked Saville. 

“Remember him!” answered the baroness. 
“Perfectly. He was the cause of a terrible 
tragedy, and paid with his life for his treach- 
ery.” 

“You are mistaken, baroness. Vyvian 
Fane is alive, and is now Lord Arlingford. 
The title came to him, it is true, very un- 
expectedly. ” 

“And this is the man who ruined Captain 
Goddard .? In St. Petersburg he betrayed an 
innocent man to death, — a man beloved by all, 
a man who knew no wrong, — and struck down 
his wife and child with the self-same blow. 
Oh, you did well to come to me I* I can give 
you all the information that you want. Listen!” 

At this moment a servant entered. 1 

“Your Excellency’s secretary has returned,” 
said he to Bella-Demonia. 

“Admit him.” 

The giant form of Rodia Pouschkoff entered 
the room. Delivering a note to his mistress, 
he waited whilst she read it, and then, re- 


Bella~Demonia» 


ceiving a hurried command in a low tone, left 
the room once more. The Baroness AltdorfF 
turned to Dick Saville. 

must ask you to wait until to-morrow,'' 
she said, 'Tor the details. A sudden call in- 
terrupts us." And she rang for a servant. 

"Conduct Mr. and Mrs. Saville to their 
apartments . — An revoir^ Mrs. Saville, and I 
hope h hientdt . " 

Dick Saville and his wife left the room, 
accompanied by the servant. When they were 
gone, Bella-Demonia turned to the prince: 

"Beyaz Murad is here, at the gates. Fol- 
low me." And she led the way to her own 
wing o'f the chateau. 


Bella-Dcmonia, 


191 


CHAPTER III. 

THE SNARE. 

The boudoir-study of the Baroness Altdorff 
was a large room opening upon the terrace. 
When she entered it, accompanied by Prince 
SchoulofF, it was illuminated by a couple of 
lamps, that served to intensify the gloom be- 
yond the radius of their light. 

''This omnipotent general is here,'' she 
said, turning to the prince as she closed the 
door. "I will admit him by this window. 
Once here, you will have the house surrounded 
by Kapiodovitch's men, and when I have 
learnt all I can of his plans I will give a signal. 

I have my revolver here: I will fire once.'* 

As she spoke she threw open the shutters 
that guarded the windows, and the light of the 
rising moon poured into the room; then she 
came close to the prince, and said, looking 
him deeply in the eyes, — 

' ' What will you give me for this man's cap- 
ture ?" 

"Whatever you choose to ask. What shall 
it be?" 


1 92 Bella-Demonta. 

The life of one man, taken or given when 
and how I shall decide 

‘‘ Baroness V 

‘‘Don't wonder; don't be surprised: only 
promise, — promise me by all that you hold 
holy." 

“It shall be as you wish." 

“Good! Now go !" 

Prince Schouloff left the room and she lis- 
tened to his footsteps growing fainter down the 
corridor. 

“At last," said she, as she loosened the fast- 
enings of the window, — “at last I shall be 
avenged I He lives 1 How has he escaped all 
these years? But what does it matter.? Ah! how 
I could have vindicated you, Aubyn Goddard, 
h^d j^ou too lived ! but I can show the world 
that your honor was stolen from you by a felon; 
and I will r 

She sank into a low chair before the fire, 
which blazed despite the season, her back 
turned to the window, her face hidden in her 
hands. 

A slight noise a^ the window is pushed open 
from the outside, and a man steps into the 
room. He is dressed in the simple but strik- 
ing costume of a Turkish staft-officer. His 
black military frock is buttoned to the chin re- 
lieved only by the star of the Medjidieh which 


Bella-Demo7iia, 


193 


blazes on the left breast, and thrown into 
shadow by the folds of his voluminous military 
cloak. One arm, which is evidently wounded, 
rests in the breast of his coat, and his feet are 
cased in high boots which bear the traces of 
hard and rough riding. 

The woman lowers her hands and turns 
slowly with a little smile upon her face. As 
their eyes meet, she starts violently and springs 
to her feet. A cry breaks from her: 

‘‘Aubyn Goddard ! You! Living! Here, 
and called Beyaz Murad ! What does it 
mean T 

On his part he is no whit less astounded. 
He advances towards her : 

‘'The Baroness Altdorff! Is it real.? My 
God ! at last I see you again ! Is this a 
dream V 

Quick as thought she has flown to the door 
and double-locked it, then to the window, 
which she hastily bars once more. At last she 
turns and comes to him. 

“Would to God we never might waken!" 
she whispers, in a frightened moan. 

As for him, the object of his coming, all, is 
forgotten in the ecstacy of seeing her again. 

“If you only knew," he says, “ how often I 
have prayed that I might live to see you once 
more ! Through all the wild excitement of 


194 


Bella-Demonia, 


fighting, that hope has been my talisman. I 
have thought how foolish I was to obey you 
and not try to find you again in Vienna, till it 
was too late ! When I made up my mind to 
tell you that I could no longer keep my prom- 
ise, that I must try to win you back, — that, 
wild and impetuous as was the dream, its 
strength swept my reason from me, — ah ! I 
felt that I must return and read once more in 
your sweet face a promise that — 

For pity's sake — " 

I sought you too late : you had gone, and 
left no trace behind. It was a moment of bit- 
ter despair, for I thought you would have 
smiled pardon upon me, and I felt I should 
not have had to beg in vain. Was I wrong 
‘ ‘ Oh, forgive m€, Aubyn I Why did I not 
know ? Let me speak now. " 
c ‘‘Not yet! Let me tell you first, before I 
(touch your lips, that I am ruined, disgraced, 
— that I have been robbed of name, fame, 
honor — no I hardly that, ^uiyou will believe 
that no fault of mine has exiled me." 

“You will break my heart 1" 

“You have heard how, and why, I left Eng- 
land?" 

“Yes, — but just now." 

“Do you believe me guilty of the crime of 
which I was accused ?" 


Bella-Demonia, 


T95 


‘‘I know that you were not, and all the _ 
world would have known the same, if you had 
demanded an explanation/' 

And that I could neither demand nor give." 

'‘Oh, you were wrong! You must have 
been mad not to see how base a suspicion you 
allowed to take root. Why did you keep 
silent.?" 

She had come close to him and laid her 
hand upon his arm, — the wounded one. He 
became deathly white, and staggered at her 
touch. 

“What is it?" she exclaimed. “You are 
ill." 

‘ ‘ No, no ; it is nothing. Give me some 
water. Ah I Nothing serious, — only a bit 
painful. I was wounded a few days ago, and 
as I was riding here my horse stumbled ; I had 
only one hand, and he threw me. I — I think 
the wound has opened again. Don't be 
alarmed : it's all right. It does not pain me 
now. " 

He paused and caught his breath. 

“It’s stupid of me to get knocked over so 
easily," he continued, “but I've been ill some 
time, and I suppose that’s why I got fain,t. 
You were asking me something?" 

“Are you better?" she asked, anxiously. 

“Yes, — yes. Listen 1 You asked me why 


igS 


Bella-Demonia, 


I did not explain how I got that card. I 
could not. It meant the loss of honor for a 
woman or for me. The whole thing was a 
plot, but I could not have proved any conspir- 
acy. This woman was cruelly wronged ; I 
had known her from a child ; she was helpless 
and alone : — can you wonder that I chose 
even disgrace to save her ? '' 

But she was wrong to let you do so. How 
could she keep silent and let you ruin your- 
self? It was cruel T' 

Don't blame her; she was not to blame, 
and it can do no good now. I only tell you 
this because I could not bear that a thought of 
suspicion should be between us. I had a card 
on which she had written a message, — inno- 
cent enough in itself, but which those who 
sought to entrap us both could have made to 
appear guilty. This is the secret of my crime. 
Do you believe me ?" 

As I believe in God !" 

‘‘My darling \” 

They were in each other’s arms, the world 
forgetting in the glory of the moment that they 
knew each other’s love. 

“And you will tell me that there is nothing 
to prevent you resting here upon my heart for- 
ever. The war can’t last much longer, and I 
shall be free. Then will you help me to forget 
the weary time before I knew you ? AM 


Bella-Demonia, 


197 


The cry was wrung from him by his agony. 

‘‘Ah! you are badly hurt ! you are hiding 
it from me I '' she said. 

“It is true,” he gasped: “the wound is 
deep, and I am more hurt than I thought. 

1 It’s only the loss of blood, however. Don’t 
come near. It will frighten you.” 

At that moment a slight noise upon the 
terrace outside struck her ear, and recalled her 
to the present. It was the light clank of a rifle 
as it touched the gravel. 

“ My God I ” she exclaimed, “there is dan- 
ger here. You must try to keep strong, — to 
get away. Heaven forgive me I you are be- 
trayed 1 Can’t you walk .? Try. Come here 
into my room : it is your only chance of 
safety. ” 

Her words and tone recalled him to his 
senses. 

“Why are you here .? ” he said ; “and where 
is the woman I came to see ? — Bella-Demonia } 
I don’t understand.” 

“Don’t try to understand. I will tell you 
when you are safe, Come with me. ” 

“What do you mean.?* I can’t — ” 

A footstep in the corridor. Quick as thought 
the woman seized his wounded arm, and with 
the pain he fell senseless to the ground. Then 
she fired her revolver, — twice. A knock on the 
door 1 She drew his pistol front his holster and 


198 


Bella-Demon ia. 


laid it on the floor, drawing his cloak over his 
face as she did so. With a crash the door fell 
open, and Prince Schouloff entered the room. 

For God's sake get help I she exclaimed. 
“When he found he was betrayed he would 
have killed me. I shot him. He was going 
to escape. I tried to keep him : he was des- 
perate — then I fired. He is dead / 

' ' I was wrong to let you risk such an inter- 
view," said the prince, looking at the prostrate 
form. “I will see myself that no one enters 
till he is taken away." 

He was moving to the door. Then he 
turned and came back, “Perhaps he is only 
wounded," he said, laying his hand upon the 
senseless man's heart. He was just going once 
more, when he saw the revolver on the floor. 
He picked it up and pointed it at the still form. 

“ Better make quite sure ! " he said. 

He was about to fire, when Bella-Demonia 
flung herself upon the body. 

“No ! no ! " she cried, “ I have lied to you ! 
I have betrayed you both ! " 

The cloak fell from Goddard's features. The 
prince looked at him. 

“Captain Goddard 1 " he exclaimed. 

“Yes, yes ! It is Captain Goddard. Listen! 
For this man's capture you promised me the 
life, of one man given or taken how and when 
I should decide, I claim hisT 


Bella-Demoilia. 


199 


CHAPTER IV. 

FACE TO FACE. 

For the next few days the inhabitants of the 
Villa Kristov Hisar lived in a state of sup- 
pressed excitement. Prince Schouloff s first 
care was to send Mrs. Dashton off to Nice, 
armed with all that was needful to take Lord 
Arlingford back to London, but ignorant of 
what had taken place at the villa. Of the 
amazement of Dick Saville and his wife it is 
unnecessary to speak. Kitty and the Baroness 
Altdorff relieved each other in the care of 
Goddard, who woke from his swoon in a high 
delirium. 

The prince said but little, biding his time 
and waiting for Bella-Demonia to speak. 

At last, one day when Goddard was fairly 
convalescent, she sent for him to her boudoir. 
She was sitting listlessly before the fire when he 
entered, and, looking up, gave him her hand, 
which he respectfully kissed. 

‘‘Be seated, prince,'’ she said. “The time 
has come when some explanation is due to 
you. I wish to give it to you now, ” 


200 


Bella-Dernofiia, 


‘‘You are not overtaxing your strength, 
baroness ? '' 

‘ ‘ No. I am as eager to question as I am 
willing to answer. '' 

“lam all attention."' 

“ Had you any suspicion that Beyaz Murad 
Bey and Aubyn Goddard were one and the 
same man .? " 

“Not the faintest." 

“You believed him to be dead ?" 

“ Implicitly." 

“What has been the result of his detention ’ 
here?" 

“The result has been the beginning of the 
end. The Flying Legion, suddenly deprived 
of its leader, has lost its position as an inde- 
pendent army corps. Radetzky and Gourko 
have at last defeated Suleiman, and the Russian 
standard floats in the Shipka Pass. Suleiman 
is trying to regain his position, but in vain. 
Meanwhile, Skobeleff refuses to take warning 
from July, or advice from Todleben, and is 
preparing to attack Plevna once more, now that 
Osman's reinforcements have been stopped." 

‘ ‘ It has been a great work, " said the baroness, 
drearily. 

“For which a great price has been paid, 
baroness." 

.‘ ‘ A great price ?" 


Bella-Deinonia. 


201 


‘‘The life of Captain Goddard given and 
taken when and how you decided/' said Schou- 
loff. 

“Ah ! it was fortunate for Lord Arlingford, 
his betrayer, that it was so ! Had it not been 
Goddard's it would have been his." 

“You have plunged me in a whirl of wonder, 
baroness. The afternoon that Mr. and Mrs. 
Saville arrived you expressed your ignorance of 
Viscount Arlingford. Five minutes later the 
sound of his name caused you the first strong 
emotion that I have ever known you to betray. 
It is with John Vyvian Fane that you are con- 
cerned, — John Vyvian Fane, now Viscount 
Arlingford. You have cause to hate him. Tell 
me about it: I can help you, and I will." 

“You.?'; 

“ Even so. Lord Arlingford was at one time 
in the employ of the secret police in Peters- 
burg—" 

“ I know !" 

“ He was expelled for making it the instru- 
ment of a private vengeance — ’’ 

“I know I" 

“ He implicated an innocent man in the 
socialist schemes of one Dorsld — " 

“ I know !" 

“You know ! you know !" exclaimed Schou- 
loff, “ How do you know ?" 


202 


Bella-Demonia. 


‘^You ask me how I know. You ask me 
why I have sworn an oath of vengeance against 
this Lord Arlingford, once John Vyvian Fane. 
Ask me rather the question you have spent time 
and money in vain to have answered : ask me 
rather who I am.'' 

My God ! what do you mean.?" 

I am the Princess Carita Galitzin P 

^^H'Oly St. Katerine !" 

Prince Schouloff rose and went successively 
to the doors leading into the corridor, and into 
Bella-Demonia's apartments, to make sure 
against eavesdroppers. 

Then he returned to her side, and, bending 
till his eyes were plunged in hers, he took her 
wrist in his soft irresistible grasp and said, in a 
low, distinct voice, — 

And I am Alexis Dor ski r 

* * * * : 4 : 

For some minutes a dead silence, reigned in 
the room. 

The Princess Galitzin, to call her by her real 
name, had sprung to her feet, pressing her 
hands to her throbbing temples, as she looked 
down at the man who, after intrusting her with 
the master-secret of his life, had resumed his 
seat calmly. 

''The mystery of the cipher-dial is at last ex- 
plained," said Schouloff at length. 


Bella-Demonia, 


203 


*^And hi§ son, — Dmitri Dmitrievitch Kera- 
tieff, — does he know?'' 

‘^No one knows, save the Princess Galitzin, 
and Schoulotf, the Chief of Police." 

*'Why have you told me?" 

'‘You have a letter of mine." 

"True : here it is." And, rapidly unfasten- 
ing the bosom of her dress, she took therefrom 
a tightly-folded paper, which, opening, she 
laid before him. 

"That is your handwriting?" she said. 

' ' No ; it was the handwriting of Alexis Dorski 
the Terrorist. It was missing from among the 
secret papers of Keratieff. It was to obtain it 
that, primarily, I obtained his position. I have 
sought it ever since. It was to obtain it that I 
made his son my confidential secretary. Had 
I known in whose hands it lay, I should have 
rested easy." 

"It is at your service. Now I" 

" Now ?" 

"Tell me; Vyvian Fane was reported assas- 
sinated on the Polish frontier." 

"True ; but it was his valet who was mur- 
dered and mutilated beyond recognition. His 
connection with the Third Section gave him 
means of learning the conspiracy against him. 
He boarded an English cruiser which lay off 
fhe Fortress of the Schlusselburg. Arrived in 


204 


Bella Demonia, 


England, the unexpected reversion of the title 
and estate of Arlingford served more com- 
pletely to conceal him ; the name of Vyvian 
Fane was dropped. I alone of the Depart- 
ment have kept track of his lordship, and I 
have surrounded him with such a net-work 
that when the time comes to strike, he cannot 
escape me 

'‘Cannot escape 

" Yes, me. Over the senseless form of your 
brother’s wife I swore to avenge my friend La- 
dislas Galitzin. It was I who apprised you of 
her condition that fatal night. Since then I 
have made Arlingford my tool in many a plot, 
only the more surely to shatter him when I 
turn down my thumbs and cry, like the Ro- 
mans in the arena, ' Habet f ” 

"When shall you strike 

"As soon as the war is over and Captain 
Goddard can return with us to London. I 
have sent Mrs. Dashton to take him thither 
supplied with the necessary funds to bring him 
within our grasp. I summoned her here to 
obtain information of Captain Goddard’s death. 
I confess to you that I would have given ten 
years of my life to get it; for then I dreamed that 
perhaps you — well, well, that is over now. I 
will show you that I am grateful to ' Bella De- 
moiiia, ’ I will show you that though I cannot 


Bella-Demon ia. 


205 


be your lover I can still be your friend and 
ally, and my power is as much yours as it 
would be were you mine. No, not a word ! 
I do not wear my heart upon my sleeve, but, 
princess, I love you more than I shall ever tell 
you. Now ! it is over. There ! we will 
change the subject. 

The princess had risen as he spoke. When 
he became silent she moved to his side, and, 
sinking on her knee beside him, she took his 
hand in hers. A strong shudder passed across 
his frame, as the woman bent and pressed her 
lips to his hand, and a hot tear fell upon it. 

Then, as she raised her head and looked at 
him, he bent his reverently, and for the first 
and last time kissed the marble-cold brow that 
was upturned to him. 


BOOK IV. 


CHAPTER 1 . 

SOWING THE WIND. 

When our story reopens in the month of 
April, 1878, great changes — almost cataclysms 
— have occurred in Europe. The Treaty of 
San Stefano has been signed, and the Powers, 
waking to the enormity of its conditions, are 
preparing for the Congress of Berlin. What 
might have been the end of the Turco-Russian 
war of 1877-78 had the Flying Legion suc- 
fceeded in reaching Osman Pasha, it is impos- 
sible to surmise. The dispersal of that mys- 
terious organization seemed to mark the 
turning-point of the war. Osman's last sup- 
plies reached him from Sofia in November, and 
on the 9th of December, driven to despair, he 
made his heroic and historic sortie, which 
would have undoubtedly been successful, had 
not treachery from within the bastions of 
Plevna apprised Todleben of his intention, and 
enabled the general, at the cost of the Siberian 


Bella^Demon ia. 


207 


regiment, to force the surrender, with all the 
honors of war, of the greatest soldier that Tur- 
key had known since the days of Mahmoud 
the Reformer. New Year’s day, 1878, saw 
Gourko across the Etropol Balkans, and on 
the T welfth Night he supped in Sofia. At the 
end of the month Adrianople was reached, and 
a British fleet entered the Bosphorus under a 
protest which England’s Greatest Statesman 
utterly disregarded. 

In this way was Constantinople saved the 
ignominy of becoming a Russian watering- 
place. 

Meanwhile, the actors of our drama had re- 
assembled in London, where the last act was 
to be played out. Goddard had recovered 
from the effects of his wound only after months 
of patient nursing on the part of his soul’s 
idol. Lord Arlingford had returned to town, 
and Prince Schouloff, present ostensibly on di- 
plomatic service, was shifting the strings of the 
web he had drawn around his victim, from 
finger to finger as the development of events re- 
quired. 

Our story reopens in the little drawing-room 
of Mrs. Bradley Dashton’s cosey maisonneite in 
Mayfair. Two men are present, one pacing 
irritably up and down, the other comfortably 
ensconced in an arm-chair. 


2o8 


Bclta-Demonid, 


The first is Viscount Arlin^ford, the second 
is that promising soldier of the army of finan- 
cial martyrs, Major Homer Carteret. Lord 
Arlingford comes suddenly to a full stop. 

“Why the deuce/' says he, “did you let 
Emily come back to England, least of all at 
this most critical juncture ? You know how 
impetuous she is, and among the ways out of 
our present difficulties you know very well 
there is no choice. " 

‘ ‘ And you know very well, my dear Arling- 
ford, that I can't control her any more than 
you can. She appeared to come to the deci- 
sion in an instant, and declined to allow me to 
argue the point. I’ve always warned you that 
she would be dangerous if the spirit so moved 
her, and yet you allowed the Briggs affair to 
get into print. Indeed, it was sheer folly of 
you to make the running in that direction at 
all. ' 

You put the case charmingly, my dear 
Carteret, only you seem to forget that at the 
time I went for the little Briggs there was no 
other course open, — indeed, that it is only 
within the last twenty-four hours that circum- 
stances have permitted me to drop her out at 
all. Another trifle that you overlook is that 
neither you nor I could have foreseen the ex- 
traordinary turn affairs have taken. I shall be 


Bella- Demon id . 


209 


able now to pay all my debts and start for Al- 
giers as soon as possible. ” 

“ That is, supposing Emily to be tractable.” 

‘‘You leave me to manage her : she's not 
likely to give me much trouble. What a time 
she is ! I shall be late. I promised to go and 
look at a horse : they tell me he's a clipper, 
and up to my weight, — can jump anything. 
Look here ! I wish you'd go down to Rice's 
and tell him I can't come till to-morrow, but 
that if his horse is all he says he is. I'll take him.'' 

“ But I thought you said you were going to 
Algiers V remarked Major Carteret, with an 
interrogative inflection. 

“Yes, so I am. But I fancy I can win a 
bit steeple-chasing before I go. Featherstone, 
who’s ordered out to India, has offered me a 
couple of horses that have been running won- 
derfully well at some of the small meetings. He 
only wants three hundred and fifty pounds for 
'em, — dirt-cheap. The three will do me very 
well ; and when I go I'll give you the lot, if 
you like, and you can hunt this year. '' 

“Thanks, old man,” replied Carteret, rising. 
“ I’ll go and inspect my future property ; but, 
egad ! I'm afraid my creditors will do most 
of the hunting.” 

“Oh! all right. Say they’re still mine. 
Good-by. Be in time to-night.” 


2 1 o Bella-Deinoilta. 

“Yes. Good-by.'’ 

And his lordship was left alone. Not for 
long, however, for a moment later Mrs. Dash- 
ton entered the room. 

“Aren't you glad to see me, Jack?" she 
said, advancing with both hands outstretched. 
“ I've so much to forgive you that — I daren't 
begin. Suppose I absolve you blind, without 
going into the details. Tell me, weren't you 
surprised to know that I was here ?" 

“Yes, — deucedly surprised. And I wish 

you hadn't come." 

“How horrid of you to say that! and it's 
such a long time since I've seen you, too, you 
bad boy 1 " 

She had come up behind him and put her 
hands on his shoulders as he sat. He disen- 
gaged himself a trifle impatiently. 

} “My dear girl," he said, “I wish you 
wouldn't do this. You know it bores me. 
You shouldn't have come over : you'll upset 
all my plans. Why didn't you stop in Paris?" 

“Because I am fool enough to care for you, 
and weak enough to believe you cared a little 
for me. But don’t place too much reliance on 
my folly. I tell you. Jack, that the day I 
make up my mind that you mean to throw me 
over, it will be a bad day for you !" She had 
come to close him, and her tone changed 


Bella-Demonia, 


2II 


from one of intense earnestness to one of ugly 
cynicism. '‘Tm afraid you'll make me lose 
1 my temper. Don't ! I'm not nice when I'm 
angry." 

‘‘Now, look here, Emily: this tragic tone 
is out of place. You know it's no use acting 
with me." 

“When I do act with you, it will be forci- 
bly enough to claim your attention; but before 
that happens, I want you to explain one or 
two things. I came here expecting that you 
would be glad to see me. I didn't believe the 
stories I heard about an American girl ; and 
now I want to know from you how much 
truth there was in them. That you would be 
unscrupulous enough to deceive I don't doubt, 
but that you would be fool enough to arouse 
my enmity I doubt very much. But, bah ! I 
didn't come to England to threaten. Are you 
going to marry the girl 

“No!" 

Mrs. Dashton heaved a sigh of relief. 

“Ah I I was sure of you," she said. “Why 
do you try to make me jealous You shouldn't 
do it, Jack, — you shouldn't do it. Well, the 
trouble of the journey is well repaid, now that 
the suspense is over. Of course I knew it 
wasn't true; yet I couldn't rest until I was 


sure. 


^12 


Bella-Demonia, 

‘‘Now, look here, Emily,'' exclaimed Arling- 
ford, rising to his feet : “let us put an end to 
this. I'm going back to my wife." 

“What ! You're not in earnest?" 

“I am, — perfectly." 

“Very well ! so am I. You shan't do itT 

“Don't talk nonsense, but listen to me. 
An aunt of my wife's has left her her fortune 
and advised her to make friends with me. You 
don't suppose I am going to chuck away such 
an opportunity, — especially as everything is as 
bad as it can be at home ? My agent can't get 
me a penny. Now make up your mind to ac- 
cept the situation. I'll go to Paris as soon as I 
can ; meanwhile. I'll see you get all the money 
you want — " 

“Do you suppose," broke in the woman in- 
dignantly, “that I am the kind of woman to be 
ordered about.? — to be a pensioner on your 
wifes bounty ? Undeceive yourself ! It's your 
turn to listen to me, I would have endured 
any privation for you and with you — for love. 
That is over : you make it a business transac- 
tion. Very well : you must accept my terms. 
I have disgraced myself long enough for you. 
You will marry me." 

“Don't be a fool," was the brutal response. 
“One must draw the line somewhere,; and I 
couldn't fly in the face of the world as far as 


Bella-Demonia, 


213 


that, I have a few friends I must consider, 
and— 

“ So ! I am not good enough for you, — ^you, 
who cannot enter a decent house in England, — 
you, the sharper, — the thief! Do you forget I 
' know how you ruined Goddard V 

don^t care a damn what you know. I 
was willing to take care of you ; you refuse 
help. Sot// A woman who lets a married 
man make love to her always gets the worst of 
it in the long run. I am going to become re- 
spectable, and in five years no one will remem- 
ber that I was ever anything else. You might 
have known, as I didn’t ask you to come, that 
I didn’t want you — ” 

He was cut short by the entrance of a servant 
with a note. Mrs. Dashton tore it open and 
glanced through it, visibly excited. Hastily 
writing a few words at her escritoire, she handed 
the answer to the servant, who left the room. 
Mrs. Dashton appeared to have recovered all 
her composure. 

‘H thought we knew each other pretty well,” 
she said, ‘‘but it appears that we are both 
destined to make discoveries. Your new fad 
for respectability is a little startling. My de- 
termination maybe equally astonishing. I sim- 
ply decline to take the place you assign to me. ” 

“My dear Emily, the great charm about you 
was, that you were so thoroughly sensible. 


214 


Bella-Demon ia. 


You are not like yourself to-day. Tve told 
you what I mean to do.'' 

‘^In other words, you defy me. Now I'll 
tell you what / mean to do. I can't make you 
marry me, but you certainly shan't marry any- 
body else. I have helped you in your dirty 
work, I have done things for your sake that no 
money in the world would have induced me to 
do, and if you suppose that you can calmly say, 
'Good-by, I've no further use for you,' and ex- 
pect that that is the end, you are vastly mis- 
taken. So your idea of a sensible woman — 
such as you are good enough to call me — is 
one who is always ready to subscribe to your 
pleasure or income as necessity demands? So 
long as her sense is used for your benefit, she is 
charming, but you are always surprised when 
she exerts it in her own behalf. I will be sensi- 
ble, and mind you don't regret it. So I am to 
wander away an outcast, — declassky — whilst 
you become a respectable member of society? 
Charming !" 

As she spoke. Lord Arlingford had risen, 
and, taking his hat and cane, had moved to 
the door. Seeing him on the point of de- 
parture, she ran to him and flung her arms 
about him. 

"Oh, Jack, Jack," she cried, "don’t go like 
that ! I was only desperate.. Say you did not 


Bella-Demonia, 


mean what you said. You don’t really mean 
to throw me over, after all your promises 
'‘I’ve said all I have to say,” answered the 
man, roughly. “Let me go. You know 
'scenes’ bore me. Let me go, I say!” 

He flung her from him, and went out. Her 
foot catching on some piece of furniture, she 
fell heavily to the ground. For a moment she 
lay as if dazed ; then a great sob escaped her, 
and with difficulty she rose and staggered to her 
writing-table. Her eyes fell upon the note that 
lay where she had left it. 

“Ah, Jack,” she said, aloud, “if you had 
known who was waiting an answer to this letter, 
you would have been more — more discreet.” 

She touched a bell, and the next moment 
Captain Aubyn Goddard entered the room. 

“lam glad you are here,” she said, recover- 
ing herself as she went to meet him. “You 
have been very kind to me, — much kinder 
than I deserve, for until this moment I had no 
intention of repaying you. ” 

“Poor old lady!” answered Goddard, 
soothingly. “Why, how upset you are! 
What has happened .? Can I do anything to 
help you 

“ Always the same kindly sympathy, Aubyn. 
How good you are ! I see by this note you 
came over to get a confession from Jack 


2i6 


Bella-Demonia, 


Arlingford. You want my help. You value 
this vindication very much, do you not V 

course I do. Until his confession is 
obtained, there may be those who doubt me; 
and, more than the opinion of all, there is one 
whose faith in me must be justified. There is 
to be a meeting to-night at Briggs's to endeavor 
to bring it about, and you can help it, I know. 
You’ve known me for years, old girl, and you 
know I was innocent, don't you V 

^‘More ! I will prove it. But you must go 
now, for I expect a visitor. Give me the ad- 
dress of your friend where the explanation is to 
take place, and you shall have proof, — all the 
proof you want. And don't judge me too 
harshly for my share in the matter: I have had 
but one excuse, — I did it for him. And just 
now he struck me down ! — Oh 1” 

He struck you !" 

Yes." 

‘‘ My God ! What a brute !" 

Never mind now: you must go. 
engaged. But we shall meet to-night." 

Goddard left her. When she was alone, she 
moved once more to her desk, and opening a 
locked drawer, took from it an envelope, at 
which she gazed for a few moments motionless. 

Then hurriedly she tore it open and took 
from it a playing-card. 

It was the king of clubs. 


Bella-Demonia. 


217 


CHAPTER 11. 

THE VENGEANCE OF THREE WOMEN. 

As she stood looking at it, the servant en- 
tered, bearing a card on a salver. She took it 
up with an air of lazy indifference which 
quickly changed to one of strong emotion. 

‘'Lady Arlingford she exclaimed; then, 
turning to the servant, she added, “You did 
not say that I was in ?” 

“No, maam,'' answered the domestic. “I 
said that I would see.'' 

“Say, not at home." Then, as the servant 
was leaving the room, she added, “Stay !" 

She stood, twirling the piece of pasteboard 
in her fingers. 

“What can she want of me, — that woman, 
— here in my house Then apparently mak- 
• ing up her mind, she hastily concealed the 
playing-card in the bosom of her dress, and 
said, “Show her in." 

Lady Arlingford entered the room, and the 
two women bowed without speaking. 

“You are surprised to see me," said Lady 
Arlingford, recovering herself the first. “ I owa 


2I8 


Bella-D'emonia. 


you, perhaps, an apology for intruding upon 
you, but I felt that I must come. I — I have a 
favor tcf ask.” 

The concluding words were spoken with an 
obvious effort, and Mrs. Dashton, with an in- 
clination of her head, signified that she was 
listening. 

“ You have heard that there is to be a meet- 
ing to-night for the exoneration of Captain 
Goddard T said her ladyship. 

^‘Yes.” 

^‘You will be there 
Yes.” 

<< I — I — you have heard that I desire to re- 
marry Lord Arlingford 

“ I have heard it.” 

“ Mrs. Dashton, it is better to speak plainly. 
I know that Lord Arlingford's position in the 
matter will depend greatly on what you will 
say. I know what your feelings under the 
circumstances must be. I hope — I believe — 
that he will make every possible reparation. I 
have come to beg that you will hold your 
hand so far as you can.” 

''What do you wish me to do.^” 

"Am I right in supposing that your evidence 
can ruin his lordship ? — I mean, in the matter 
of the card 

For all answer Mrs. Bradley Dashton slowly 


Bella-Denionia, 


219 


drew the king of clubs from its resting-place 
and laid it on the table. 

As Lady Arlingford’s eyes fell upon it, she ex- 
claimed, — 

''It is as I feared. I have come to beg that 
you will not confront him with that card. It 
will be my care that Captain Goddard shall 
produce the card which he actually held, — the 
one on which I wrote. Will you not be merci- 
ful } — will you not shield my husband so far as 
not to add this horrible evidence to mine.^^’' 

" Lady Arlingford,'' returned Mrs. Dashton, 
"you have been frank with me; I will be 
equally so with you. An hour ago I would 
have guarded this card with my life ; but within 
this hour things have altered.'" 

"But surely—" 

"No! let me think."" 

Her reflections were interrupted by the re-en- 
trance of the servant. 

"The Baroness Altdorff is below,’" said he to 
his mistress, in a low tone. 

"Ask her to come here, ""said Mrs. Dashton ; 
then, turning to the suppliant woman before 
her, she said, — 

"A lady is below, who calls by appointment. 
On what she will say my decision must in a 
great measure depend. If you will step into 
this next room, I will tell you what that de^ 
cision is when she has left me/’ 


220 


Bella-Demonia, 


You say that she can influence you : will 
you not let me try to influence her? A woman 
should be merciful to one of her sex. '*' 

‘‘Perhaps. At present I cannot tell. Step 
in here, however, and in ten minutes you shall 
know.'^ 

There was no time for parley, and the Count- 
ess of Arlingford stepped into the adjoining 
boudoir. Mrs. Bradley Dashton stood looking 
at the card that lay upon the table. 

“Ah,” said she, as if apostrophizing the 
pasteboard, “I wonder into whose hands you 
will eventually fall ? Those two men and that 
woman who have just left this room would give 
a good deal for you, and Bella-Demonia wants 
you more than either of them. Ah, baroness, 
you want my assistance in unmasking Lord 
Arlingford ! You little know how much I can 
serve you, and how willingly I will do so.” 

The next moment Bella-Demonia was an- 
nounced. 

“You are punctual, baroness,” said Mrs. 
Dashton, coming forward. “That is good, 
for it seems we have much to do. You will 
believe, I am sure, that I appreciate the con- 
fidence you have reposed in me, and I will 
justify it.'' 

“You have already justified it by guarding 
the secret of Captain Goddard's identity with 


Bella-Demonia, 


221 


the Turkish general who reached the Villa 
Kristov Hisar just before you left us/' 

'‘But I never knew it until after Lord Ar- 
lingford had left me in Paris and returned to 
London." 

"It was as well, we thought, that you should 
get some suspicion of what kind of man this 
Arlingford really is, before you knew so im- 
portant a secret. You know, we women, when 
we love — " 

"Yes, yes ; I know all that you would say. 
Your letter of yesterday tells me I can help you 
further. " 

"Yes; and I trust we may count upon 
you 

" I know what you want, and — yes, you may 
count upon me. I will meet you to-night at 
Mr. Briggs's in Hereford Street at nine o'clock, 
and, believe me, Goddard will have no more 
valuable ally there than Emily Dashton." 

"I supposed," said Bella-Demonia, "that I 
should have had a hard fight to gain your aid. 
I will not ask why you are so unexpectedly won 
over, but I want you to know that my gratitude 
shall be no empty form of words. I will en- 
deavor to prove to you how I value your sacri- 
fice. May I speak frankly 

Mrs. Dashton had seated herself in the low 
arm-chair, and bowed her head silently. The 
other woman continued : 


Bella-Detnonia, 


^22 


‘‘Captain Goddard’s vindication must be in 
a great measure due to you and what you will 
say. I know that the words which will give joy 
to us will bring pain and grief to you. Mrs. 
Dashton, I can’t be a humbug, and it is not for 
me to preach to you. The part which you have 
played in the drama which is to end to-night 
will cost you many a pang. You are a woman, 
alone in your struggle with life. I should like 
you to feel that you can always count on one 
woman who will sympathize with, will assist, 
and, if necessary, protect you, and that that 
woman is she whom you have known as Bella- 
Demonia. ” 

Mrs. Dashton had not raised her eyes. 

“Don’t give me too much credit for speak- 
ing the truth to-night. ” 

“I can see that you are much upset. Let 
me beg you to take a little rest now. I will 
send my carriage for you at nine o’clock.” 

“ Thank you. I will be ready.” 

“ I suppose I am right in thinking that you 
still possess the card that Lord Arlingford gave 
you to conceal, ^ — to destroy.?” 

Mrs. Dashton pointed to the table. 

“There it is !” she said. 

“Ah I you will give it me.?” said Bella-De- 
monia, eagerly. 

Mrs. Dashton smiled. 


Bella-Demonia, 22% 

In that room a woman a^^its your de- 
parture to renew a request she has made tome. 
She also desires this card, that she may destroy 
it.'' 

* ^ A woman } — who 

^^The Countess of Arlingford." 

“No.? I am most anxious to meet Lady 
Arlingford in this way, informally," said she, 
eagerly. “You would oblige me very much 
by asking her to come in . here, and by pre- 
senting us to each other." 

“I should like to do as you wish, but I am 
afraid to trust myself in such a meeting." 

“If you will do as I ask and make some ex- 
cuse to leave us together for a short time, I 
promise you that you shall be spared the em- 
barrassment of ever meeting her again." 

“You are mysterious as usual, baroness, I 
know if you promise, that you can perform, 
and I will do as you wish. Is there anything 
in particular that you wish me to say ?" 

“No; only, as soon as you can, make some 
excuse and leave us." 

‘ ‘ Certainly. And by what name do you 
wish me to present you .?" 

“By my own." 

“The Baroness Altdorff.?" 

“No; the Princess Galitzin." 

“What 1" 


Bella-Demoiita^> 


224 

^^That is my real name, which you and 
Prince SchoulofF alone have heard/' 

There was no time to express her surprise, 
as Mrs. Dashton opened the door of the bou- 
doir and the Countess of Arlingford entered the 
room. 

‘‘Lady Arlingford," said Mrs. Dashton, 
“ let me present you to a friend. The Prin- 
cess Galitzin — Lady Arlingford.'^ 

The two women bowed to each other. 

“ I must be going immediately," said Bella- 
Demonia. ‘ ‘ I think my carriage must be 
back." 

“If you will excuse me, I will go and see," 
said Mrs. Dashton. “I have some orders to 
give." 

And she left them together. 

“I think. Lady Arlingford," began the 
Princess Galitzin, “that we have a mutual 
friend in Captain Goddard. I may tell you 
that J shall be present at die meeting which 
is to take place to-night. It will be painful to 
you, but at least it will have the advantage of 
proving the innocence of our friend." 

“You know him ? Oh, I am so glad !" re- 
plied Lady Arlingford. ‘^I think he is the 
embodiment of all that is honest and true in 
man. I had, alas ! the misfortune of doing 
him the greatest wrong that was ever done — " 

“ I am sure you exaggerate your share," put 
in the princess, gendy. 


Bella-Demonid, 


225 

‘'Of course I was innocent of the inten- 
tion, but the result is the same. It seems so 
hard that after bearing my burden for so long 
I should have broken down at that moment, 
as you know. Just as I was about to tell how 
I had given him the card, 1 became insensible. 

I shall never forget the horror of that moment. 
I could have exonerated Aubyn with a word, 
and that word I could not speak. I tried — I 
fought, it seemed to me, for hours till the 
blank of insensibility came over me. Oh, it 
was cruel 

“Are you not afraid of overtaxing your 
strength. Lady Arlingford ? Would it not be 
wiser to avoid such an explanation as must 
take place to-night ? Your friends might re- 
present you, and save you much pain.'' 

“No, I must be present, for a reason so 
strong that nothing can overcome it. It is not 
alone to vindicate my old friend that I go. I 
go to intercede for one who will find no de- 
fenders, — one who I feel is so alone that his 
need has won my sympathy, — my husband V' 

“You can plead for him.? But he is no 
longer your husband: you are divorced." 

“He is my child's father: what divorce of 
law can alter that.? You will think. that I am 
very weak, but I have my own opinions. 
There is nothing of the Bohemian in my dis- 
position." 

“ Bohemian ! May I ask what you call 


226 Bella-Demonia, 

^Bohemian'? You do not answer. Let me 
define it for you. It is something distinct from 
‘ a lady. ’ A lady means one who is well born, 
tenderly nurtured, carefully educated; always 
placed — that is, presumably placed — beyond 
the knowledge of evil, she is sheltered from 
contact with the sufferings and sorrows of her 
less fortunate sisters. The woman who en- 
joys these advantages is called a lady, — a title 
which signifies, not the individual, but the man- 
ner of her training. A Bohemian, as you in- 
tend it, means one who is outside the pale of 
respectability, an object of suspicion, one 
whom you only consent to meet when she can 
be of service to you. Yet I have known many 
^ ladies ' the names of whose lovers are better 
known than the inner life of the reigning 
Bohemian. You would be surprised to know 
that Bohemians look down on certain sections of 
‘ society ' in amazement and pity.’' 

■ You have evidently made your experiences 
in unfortunate examples,” replied LadyArling- 
ford. ‘‘Do you not believe that there are 
ladies who are good women T 

“God forbid that I should not ! There is a 
sweet old-world title that brings to my mind all 
that is noble and good in womanhood, — a 
title that lives in my heart, shrouded in rever- 
ence, — a title that fits the beings who have 
rendered the name of mother sacred. That 
title is ‘ gentlewoman. ’ That title I believe in, 


Bella'-Demonia, 


227 


and it is found in Bohemia as well as in 
society. '' 

‘ ^ These are strange expressions for the Prin- 
cess Galitzin, who can know but little of these 
people except by force of imagination.'' 

“ You are mistaken. My flag bears the red 
and white of Bohemia, and has seen good ser- 
vice, believe me. Perhaps you will under- 
stand me better if I tell you that/^z;;/ called 
Bella- Deinonia . " 

Bella-Demonia !" Lady Arlingford had 
risen to her feet. 

“You appear shocked," said the Princess 
Galitzin. 

“I am a little startled, I confess. I was not 
prepared to meet so — so — public— a character. " 

“And you would not have cared to meet 
me, if you had known who I was. Would 
you ?" 

“ I will admit — as I do not share your 
opinions — that I should have refused to meet 
the bearer of the name ‘ Bella- Demonia ;' a 
meeting would not be pleasant for either of us. 
Still, I feel bound to say that you are quite dif- 
ferent from what I should have expected." 

“Thank you for your generous admission ; 
you are good enough to imply that there is 
nothing in my appearance or manner to de- 
prive me of the inestimable boon of at least 
looking presentable. You are a good woman 
and capable of noble impulses, but charity for 


^28 


Bella-Demoma. 


your fellow-women seems to be no part of 
your creed. Is it ignorance or intolerance that 
makes you condemn without even one expres- 
sion of regret a woman of whom you know 
nothing 

‘‘Nothing? I have heard — 

“ Heard ? I said know” 

“Pardon me for reminding you that you 
have only yourself to blame for the impres- 
sion formed of you. If a woman has no hus- 
band, and yet — 

“If respectability is based upon the posses- 
sion of a husband, then I am worthy of your 
highest esteem. Lady Arlingford, I am about 
to tell you a story which may — I hope will — 
interest you. '' 

Her ladyship bent her head, and the princess 
continued : 

“ My mother died when I was very young. 
I lived with my father at our chateau in the 
province of Ladoga, alone save for the com- 
panionship of a young girl, the daughter of a 
serf mother. She was my companion and 
friend rather than my attendant, and we were 
romantic and impressionable, both of us. One 
day we had wandered far from the chateau, 
among the woods. We were about to return 
home, when a crashing in the bushes an- 
nounced the presence of some large animal. 
An instant later one of our mountain bears 
bounded into the clearing. We clung to each 


Bella-Demonia. 


229 


other almost senseless with terror, when sud- 
denly we heard the report of a rifle close to us, 
and the beast fell dead. A moment after, a 
man sprang through the bushes, congratulating 
us on our escape, and apologizing for his sud- 
den apparition and the alarm he had caused 
us. He escorted us home, and was welcomed 
by my father, the more warmly when it trans- 
pired that he was of good family. He was an 
Englishman, on a hunting-tour, he said. He 
was staying close by, and became a constant 
visitor at the house. The sequel is — banale, I 
fancied myself in love. My brother, to whom 
the stranger was personally antipathetic, had 
contracted a secret marriage with my late com- 
panion, and they had gone to Petersburg, 
where my brother was commissioned in our 
Regiment of the Transfiguration. Left alone, 
we were not long in following my brother's ex- 
ample : we were married secretly, on account 
of my father, whose pride of race was worthy 
of a Galitzin, and in the winter the family 
moved to Petersburg. There my brother’s sus- 
picions were aroused, and, determined to drive 
this Englishman from Petersburg, he sought an 
opportunity of quarrelling with him. One 
night there was a terrible scandal at the Club. 
My brother accused my husband of cheating, 
and a meeting was arranged. Late that night 
he caused my brother s arrest. Oh, in my un- 
happy country it is not difficult to rob a man 


230 


Bella-Detnonia, 


of liberty and even life on the merest suspi- 
cion I I will spare you my tears and distrac- 
tions, and give you the facts briefly. I 
learnt that my brother had been denounced 
by my husband. He was doomed. I never 
saw him again : he died. When it is incon- 
venient to substantiate a charge against a poli- 
tical prisoner in Russia, he has a convenient 
way of dying. From that moment 1 had but 
one thought, but one passion, — revenge ! 
My husband was expelled the country, and 
on the frontier his carriage was wrecked by 
bandits, and himself — as I thought — assassi- 
nated. I sought oblivion of my wrongs and 
plunged into the sea of politics. I became 
Prince Schouloff s most able lieutenant. In a 
word, I became ‘ Bella-Demonia.' My desper- 
ation made me famous ; but, though employed 
by the government, my sympathies were always 
with the oppressed, and many a life have I 
saved when it has been to all intents and pur- 
poses doomed. But why continue? Even 
such feverish excitement as mine becomes 
wearisome, and just when I was most weary I 
met Captain Goddard. For the first lime I 
felt glad that I had been spared the commis- 
sion of a crime, that my hands were innocent 
of my husband's blood." 

As she finished speaking, Lady Arlingford 
rose. 

^'You have forced me to listen to a dis- 


Bella-Demonia, 


231 


course/' said she, coldly, ^'that cannot possibly 
concern me, and can only be painful to your- 
self. " 

‘'You will change your opinion," answered 
the Princess Galitzin. “I told you this story 
to illustrate the point of our discussion. I tell 
you it is well for you that all people do not 
gauge a woman's virtue by the possession of a 
husband ; ioxyou have never had one, and are 
unfortunate enough to be the mother of a child 
not born in wedlock." 

“I! How dare you 

“How dare I.^" Why, the man who mur- 
dered my brother and with him his wife and 
unborn child, the man whom I hounded hungry 
for his life, is alive ! Because the man you 
think to be your husband is inine !” 

“My God! it is not true! — it cannot be 
true !" 

“ I tell you that the man who robbed me of 
name and dignity, of my very birthright of 
gentlewoman, who made of me a character for 
such women as you to sneer at, is alive. He was 
John Vyvian Fane ; he is Viscount Arlingford." 

‘ ‘ Ah, you are only saying this because I of- 
fended you. I did not mean to be so cruel. 
See, I kneel to you to ask you for the truth. 
Will you swear to me that what you have said 
is true or untrue !” 

“It is true, so help me God! And I wijl 
prove it/' 


232 


Bella-Deinonia, 


When Mrs. Dashton entered the room, Lady 
Arlingford lay senseless at the feet of the prin- 
cess. 


CHAPTER III. 

WEAVING THE WEB. 

When, half an hour later, the Princess Galit- 
zin entered her rooms at her hotel, she found 
Prince Schouloff seated, patiently awaiting her 
arrival. 

‘‘I came to tell you,” said he, rising to meet 
her as she entered, ‘‘that there are new compli- 
cations, of which you are ignorant, and which 
it would be well for you to know.” 

“Well.?” 

“ Lord Arlingford's position with regard to 
his wife is considerably altered since yesterday.” 

“I think not.” 

Schoulolf looked at her critically for a mo- 
ment, and then resumed : 

‘ ‘ I learn that her ladyship is willing to forget 
and forgive everything, and proposes to be re- 
married to him.” 

“You are wrong in your facts, prince,” an- 
swered she, with a hardly perceptible smile. 
“ Lady Arlingford is not willing to forget or to 
forgive, and she has no intention of re-marrying 
him, for she has never been divorced.” 

For a brief moment it flashed across the 
prince that the woman’s mind was wandering ; 


Bella-Denionia, 


233 


but, if so, her placid smile belied the fact. He 
contented himself with answering simply, — 

do not understand you: you speak in 
riddles. '' 

‘'Of which you would like to have the solu- 
tion.” 

“Where is that solution to be obtained?'' 
queried the prince, patiently. 

“Why, of Lady Arlingford, of course.” 

“I should like to see her,” said Schouloff, 
reflectively. “Do you think she can receive 
me at this time ?” 

“I am sure she will be charmed, prince.” 

“And where is she now } — can you tell me?” 

“Here.” 

“Here! Where?” 

“In this room, — before you.” 

“In heaven's name, what do you mean?” 

“lam she. ” 

The words were said simply as the princess 
dropped into a chair. 

For a minute not a word was said. Then 
the prince sprang to his feet and exclaimed, — 

“I see it all! You married this man in 
Russia, did you not ?” 

“Yes.” 

“It was thus that he had access to your 
apartment and stole — my letters?” 

‘ ‘ Exactly. ” 

“Does any one else know of this? Of 
course not.” 


234 Bella-Demofiia, 

Yes. I have seen the woman he pretended 
to marry this afternoon, and I told her. It 
was time. 

How did she take it?'' 

As you might suppose.” 

V/ell, what are you going to do about it?” 

“It is the last weapon I hold in reserve to 
compel Arlingford to confess his share in the 
plot that ruined Goddard. Until that confes- 
sion is obtained, I hold my rights over his 
head. Once Goddard is free, the annulment 
of our marriage is an easy task ; the time that 
has elapsed, the circumstances, — everything 
will assist ; and you would require no assist- 
ance. ” 

The prince had been standing staring into 
the fireplace. Now he turned, and, looking 
her full in the eyes, he said, calmly, — 

“And then ?” 

She blushed violently, and answered not a 
word. 

“Never mind,” continued the prince. “I 
have shown you that I have your happiness, 
rather than mine, at heart : I will prove it yet 
further to you. We shall meet at Mr. Brigg’s 
at half-past nine. In spite of the snares we 
have tangled around the feet of Arlingford, he 
may yet brazen his way out, at least temporari- 
ly. I will come prepared with the last and 
most coercive resource, which we have in the 
Russian p^olice. ” 


Bella-Demonia. 


235 


^‘You will dare? — here in England?” 

‘‘You forget that John Vyvian Fane was a 
duly-enrolled member of the Third Section ?” 

“Forget it !” 

“Well, though no formal extradition treaty 
exists, the arm of His Majesty the Tzar is long 
enough to reach his servants, wherever they may 
be. Leave it to me.” 

‘ ‘ Willingly. Till to-night, then ?” 

Au revoir,” 


CHAPTER IV. 

AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. 

It was shortly after eight o'clock, and Mr. 
Cincinnatus Q. Briggs sat at his table in the 
library of his house in Hereford Street, busily 
engaged in writing. 

From the point of view of the ordinary Eng- 
lish novelist, whose knowledge of the American 
gentleman is bounded on the East by his 
steamer acquaintance with the travelling sales- 
man and on the West by the charming stories 
of Bret Harte, added to the occasional “ gun ” 
stories of more or less inventive bar-room 
loafers, whose daily bread — or, more accurately 
speaking, whose daily whiskey — is obtained by 
their ability to amuse the crowd, Mr. Cincin- 
natus Q. Briggs was a most disappointing 
American. His rooms were furnished with the 


236 


Bella-Demonia. 


tasteful simplicity of a scholarly traveller’s den. 
The carpets were unsullied by promiscuous ex- 
pectoration, the walls were decorated with a 
few proof etchings and here and there a master- 
piece in aquarelle ; there were no caricatures of 
colored deacons, nor were there portraits of fast 
trotters and the whiskers of Mr. Vanderbilt to 
be seen. With the exception of a small revolver 
which lay in one of the pigeon-holes of the 
desk, there was not a ‘‘gun” of any kind to be 
found, the arms and legs of the furniture had 
not been whittled into fanciful designs under 
the bowie of their owner, and the paraphernalia 
of cocktail-manufacture were conspicuous by 
their absence. 

Mr. Briggs laid down his pen, and, leaning 
back in his chair, — which, by the bye, he did 
not tilt upon its hinder legs, — took up the letter 
which he had just completed. 

“I think that this will do,” said he to him- 
self, as he read over his composition : 

“ My dear Mr. Saville, — 

“I regret to say that Lord Arlingford refuses 
to avail himself of the opportunity of flight. 
He has evidently some strong weapon in reserve. 
He means to fight; and, unless yours are 
stronger, I fear my stupid cousin will succeed 
in ruining her life. He is a clever scoundrel, 
and has adopted the surest means of making 
her his defender, by affecting to confide in het 
all that is detrimental to him, and so cutting 


Bella-Demonia, 237 

the ground from under every one else's feet. 
I send you this as arranged, that you may bring 
all your batteries to bear at once. I expect 
Lord Arlingford at any moment. 

‘‘Faithfully yours, 

‘ ‘ CiNCiNNATUS Q. Briggs. '' 

He put this letter into an envelope, and, ad- 
dressing it to Dick Saville atClaridge's, touched 
a bell. 

“See that this goes at once,’* said he to the 
servant who appeared at the sound of the bell 
and took the letter. This don^ the American 
turned once more to his papers. 

“ Let me see,” soliloquized he : “ where is 
that"^ girl’s letter.? Ah! here it is. My dear 
cousin, — You are very kind, but I am quite old 
enough to take care of myself , — Yes, quite old 
enough, but, unfortunately, neither ugly nor 
poor enough. — If I had wanted you to take care 
of me, I should have married you years ago . — 
How devilish cruel a woman can be when she 
thinks fit ! — I don't like to say hard things of a 
woman, hut I am sorry to say I cannot sympathize 
with the lady who was Lord Arlingford' s wife, 
— you surprise me, my dear cousin ! — and I 
must take his word before hers, — naturally, poor 
little girl I Um — m. That young woman 
means business : we Brigg’s generally do. It’s 
lucky for her I came to Europe when I did ; 
otherwise she’d have flung herself away on this 
fellow to a certainty. But I think, my lord 


Bella-Demonia, 


^38 

Arlingford, that you have reached the end of 
your rope, and Til lay odds that it isn’t from 
any scruple of your own that it doesn’t hang 
you. Weil, I came to Europe for excitement, 
and, egad I I’m likely to get a genteeF suffici- 
ency of it to-night. Thanks to you, my lord, 
1 witnessed the beginning, and am about to 
witness the end, of one of the liveliest sensa- 
tions that London has known for a good many 
years. ” 

At this point Mr. Briggs’ soliloquy was in- 
terrupted by the entrance of a servant announc- 
ing Dick Saville. 

‘‘Mr. Saville!” exclaimed Briggs, “de- 
lighted to see you. You’re early ; but you 
can’t have got my letter yet T 

“Letter?” replied Dick: “what letter? No. 

I only dropped in on my way to fetch my 
wife, to ask how things were going on. I 
dined at the Club to try and find out if any- 
! thing fresh had happened. I’ve brought the 
papers for Arlingford to sign : here they are in 
duplicate.” 

Mr. Briggs took them and glanced over one. 

“I think Captain Goddard must be a re- 
markably forgiving man, to consider such a 
reparation sufficient,” observed he. “On my 
side of the water a man in his position would, 

I fear, fill a man in Arlingford’s with leaden 
bullets, and the jury would differ singularly on 
the verdict to be returned.” 


Bella-Demonia, 


239 


said something of the sort to him/’ re- 
turned Saville. ‘^But he pointed out to me 
that there was nothing to be gained, but rather 
the reverse, from greater publicity. All he in- 
sists upon is that Arlingford should sign this 
Statutory Declaration and leave the country at 
once. ” 

Do you think that he will do it?” 

‘ ‘ I think he will ; but one can never be sure 
of such a blackguard. I shouldn’t be very 
much surprised if at the last moment he didn’t 
turn up.” 

‘^He told me he would be here at nine 
o’clock, but I confess I shouldn’t be astonished 
if he weakened at the last moment. I must 
say, he has reduced the art of bluff to an ap- 
plied science. When I advised him to give up 
my cousin, telling him we had the means to 
compel him to do so, his defiance was superb. 
I hope for all our sakes that the Baroness Alt- 
dorff possesses the power she promises to use 
with such effect. I tell you, dealing with him 
is no child’s play ! No, sir T 

Well, I congratulate you on being quit of 
him as far as your cousin is concerned.” 

‘‘How? quit of him?” 

“ Yes,” replied Saville : “ owing to very sin- 
gular circumstances, he will make no further 
attempt to marry her. ” 

“Is that really so? And these circum- 
stances are — ?” 


l^ella-Devtonia. 


240 

Eight thousand a year ! Did you ever re- 
mark, Mr. Briggs, that the greatest scoundrels 
always get the best kind of love, and that a 
certain kind of good woman will cling to the 
man she has chosen — in the face of every rea- 
son why she should not — with a strength that 
she would display in no other cause.?* Well, 
such a woman is Lady Arlingford. She insists 
on going back to him.'' 

“ No !" 

‘‘It is so nevertheless. She has come into 
eight thousand a year, and proposes to invest 
it in Arlingford and connubial respectability. 
This relieves you of all personal anxiety. Lady 
Arlingford is ready to leave England with him. 
It only remains for us to see that he signs this 
document." 

“And when will the Baroness — Bella-De- 
monia — arrive 

“In good time. She is a capricious mys- 
tery, that woman, but her power is enormous. 
She demands that we unquestioningly submit to 
her instructions to-night. She refuses to tell 
us what power she holds over Arlingford, and 
exacts a meeting with Lady Arlingford before 
her identity is made known. Altogether, the 
evening promises to be eventful. By Jove ! it's 
time I raii round for my wife. An revoir ! Lll 
be back inside a quarter of an hour." 

And Dick Saville left the room. As he did 
so, the servant entered with a card, which 


Bella-Demonia, 


241 

Briggs read, an expression of perplexity cross- 
ing his face. 

Carteret T' he said, — “ Major Homer Car- 
teret ? The name seems somehow familiar, 
but I can't place the man. " 

^‘The gentleman said he would be much 
obliged if you could see him for one moment," 
said the servant. 

^^Well, for one moment — show him up." 

Major Carteret swung into the room on hfs 
best stride. 

must apologize for calling at this un- 
seemly hour," said he. “You don’t remem- 
ber me, Mr. Briggs. We met at Lord Arling- 
ford’s — er — some time ago. ’’ 

“No apology is necessary," replied Mr. 
Briggs, gravely. “I remember perfectly. 
Pray be seated. Er — you wished to see me ?’’ 

“It is by Lord Arlingford’s request that I 
am here. I came to say that he cannot be 
here so soon as he anticipated. Most import- 
ant business — " 

“ So I expected," interrupted Briggs. “I 
think it very judicious — " 

“Pardon me, Mr. Briggs," interrupted the 
major, in turn, “you are mistaken. The busi- 
ness that detains Lord Arlingford is as unex- 
pected as it is urgent, — so urgent th!it he was 
unable to keep his appointment with me at the 
Club : he sent me a line asking me particularly 
to come here at once, fearing that you might 


Bella-Demonia, 


242 

misconstrue his absence. Erghem ! I am very 
glad to have this opportunity of talking over 
this unhappy 'affair. I saw Lady Arlingford 
yesterday afternoon, and after we had discussed 
the matter she decided to make Arlingford an 
offer which I shall advise him to accept.'" 

‘^May I ask if the offer concerns me in any 
way observed Mr. Briggs. 

‘‘Most certainly. Her ladyship's offer will 
cause Lord Arlingford to resign Miss Briggs’s 
hand. Erghem ! I have always had a great 
regard for Lady Arlingford, and it is her wish 
to re-marry her ex-husband." 

“I have heard something of this a few mo- 
ments ago." 

“ She looks upon it as the right thing to do 
for the child's sake, and, though I don't profess 
to be better than my neighbor, I must say that 
I agree with her." 

And the major inflated his chest till he looked 
like a police-sergeant. 

“I believe," said Mr. Briggs, drily, “that 
the amount of Lady Arlingford’s income through 
the recent death of her aunt is now eight thou- 
sand a year. Am I not accurate. Major Car- 
teret ?" 

‘ ‘ Quite ; but — " 

“As Lord Arlingford's friend'' pursued the 
American, in the same tone, “ you understand, 
of course, that on the interview of to-night de- 


Bella-Demonia, 


243 


pend his personal liberty, and, consequently, 
his ability to accept his late wife’s offer.” 

“His liberty ?” 

“ He will have to make full confession of his 
share in the conspiracy by which Captain God- 
dard was ruined. Er — please be seated. We 
shall spare Lady Arlingford as much as possible, 
but Captain Goddard s vindication is the first 
consideration. Frankly, if he refuses we shall 
convict him — and his accomplices — of conspir- 
acy and criminal libel. Er — please be seated. 
I have been drawm into this matter by my 
cousin’s unfortunate infatuation for Lord Ar- 
lingford.” 

“Mr. Briggs,” replied the major, “I^ — I feel 
it is only due to myself to say that though I am, 
as you observe, Lord Arlingford’s friend, I am 
deeply grieved at the part he took in that un- 
fortunate business.” 

“I expected as much, and I am sure you are. 
Your good feeling in the matter simplifies a re- 
quest I am about to make. Er — we are per- 
fectly prepared to do without your testimony 
against him, but it might hasten matters to have 
it. How much do you want for it 

Mr. Briggs leaned back complacently as 
Major Carteret sprang to his feet. 

“Sir !” shouted he, “how dare you? I — er 
— er — Five hundred pounds.” 
be seated.” 

The major sat down. 


Bella-Demonia, 


M4 


‘^You shall have that- amount to-night after 
the meeting. For the present, good-evening. 
You will be back in half an hour if you please.'' 

‘^Certainly," replied the warrior, and, taking 
his hat, he took with it his departure. 

Mr. Briggs looked after him for a moment, 
his head slightly on one side. 

Then he carefully selected a cigarette, which 
he thoughtfully lit. Then, walking to the fire- 
place to deposit the match, he slowly winked 
at himself in the pier-glass. 


CHAPTER V. 

REAPING THE WHIRLWIND. 

Mr. Cincinnatus Q. Briggs's complacent 
appreciation of his own diplomacy was inter- 
rupted by the sudden irruption of Kitty Saville, 
followed by Dick. 

'' How d'ye do, Mr. Briggs? ' was her greet- 
ing. ^‘Dick wanted me not to come. The 
idea ! — as if I would miss seeing my old friend 
Aubyn Goddard set right. What a long time 
it is since we met, and how queer that we 
should both be mixed up in this dreadful busi- 
ness ! I little thought, when I sat next to you 
at dinner and was so impertinent to you, that 
night at Lord Arlingford’s, that the evening 
would end so tragically. I suppose you heard 
about Lady Arlingford’s long illness ?" 


Bella-Demonia. 


245 


'‘Yes, but not the whole of the trouble,'’ 
replied Brigg's, surprised at finding himself get- 
ting in a word edgeways. 

“Well, you know, when she recovered she 
did nothing but blame herself for the whole 
affair. I believe that if Lord Arlingford had 
not been so careless of all decency, she would 
have begged his pardon. Her people insisted 
on a divorce, though, and she was too weak to 
oppose it, and when she got well she confided 
to me that if ever she found an opportunity she 
meant to ask him to marry her over again. " 

“But why.?’’ 

“For the sake of her child. Oh, what silly 
women these good women are ! Fm so glad 
Fm a bad one ! I was so impatient with her 
that we nearly quarrelled ; and now that Dick 
has determined that Goddard shall be set right, 
she has begged to be allowed to come and give 
Arlingford one more chance. Oh, that woman 
is too much of an angel — " 

“My dear Kitty," mildly expostulated Dick, 
“will you confine your attention to the matter 
in hand, and not expand on your personal feel- 
ings 

“ My Dick," was the reply, “will you 
let me say one word without interruption } 
Mr. Briggs is an old friend of mine : we met 
but once, it is true, but it’s all the same ; we 
should have been old friends if we had met 
more frequently : shouldn’t we, Mr. Briggs 


246 


Bella-Dernonia. 


My dear madam/' answered the American, 
‘‘you overwhelm me. To have met you but 
once, is both a privilege and a privation. It is 
to have lived and to have ceased living at the 
same moment. It is — 

“Mr. Briggs! if you finish that sentence I 
shall have a fit 1 Tm not accustomed to it. 
Dick when he intends to be most polite gener- 
ally says, ‘I say, old gal, you’re not looking 
half bad to-night,’ or when he means to be 
most affectionate, ‘ Here, Tramp 1 come and 
be smacked.’” 

“Really, my dear,” broke in Dick at this 
point, “these domestic details, — really — 
And, at a loss for words to balance his wife’s 
eloquence, he raised her hand deferentially to 
his lips. 

“ Why, Dick,” exclaimed she, looking at him 
in alarm, “you’re not well. All this excite- 
ment has been too much for you. Sit down, 
and don’t talk. Oh, Mr. Briggs, I had a most 
mysterious little note from Lady Arlingford, 
just as I was starting to come here. Let me 
see : what did I do with it? Ah, here it is.” 

She took a letter from her pocket and read 
as follows : 

“/ have heard terrible news this afternoon, 
and am nearly mad with hope and fear, I will 
explain all to you, I must speak to the lady whom 
you call Bella-Demonia alone : so when we meet 
to-night make some excuse to leave us together 


Bella-Demonia, 


247 


/or a few minutes. Read this to Mr. Briggs, 
and ask him to manage with you to do as I wish. 
— What does it mean V' 

She laid the letter down on the writing-table. 
As she did so, she uttered a little exclamation, 
and, turning to Briggs, quoth very gravely, — 

'‘Oh ! I am so much obliged.'' 

“I am charmed, of course; but why?'' re- 
turned Briggs, in amazement. 

"Because at last you've satisfied me that you 
are an American. Now, I wonder if you got 
this purposely for me, or if it's a toy ?" 

Her glance had fallen on the little revolver, 
and, taking it up, she brandished it with glee. 

"Be careful, for gracious’ sake!" exclaimed 
Briggs, in alarm. "It's loaded; and, though 
it's very small, it would kill at this range." 

"Oh, goodness 1" cried Kitty, as she dropped 
the weapon among the papers in comic con- 
sternation. "But come, what do you make of 
Lady Arlingford's note ?" 

‘ ' I can make nothing of it. At all events, 
her request is simple enough. They will both 
be here in a few moments, and if you will come 
into the library I should like to show you some 
etchings I have bought, — a Seymour-Haden, a 
couple of Wilfrid Ball's, and a Haig or two. I 
am told they're very fine." 

"I should like to see them very much," re- 
turned Kitty, "though I don’t understand them 
a bit. ” 


248 


Bella-Demon ia. 


Mr. Cincinnatus Q. Briggs was a most dis- 
appointing American. Instead of buying dia- 
monds or pictures to sell, he spent his spare 
cash on rare bric-a-brac, etchings, and engrav- 
ings to keep. You might be with him for 
twenty-four hours and never hear what anything 
he possessed had cost him. He had not the 
vaguest conception as to the price of his wines, 
and, though as ardent a collector of early-printed 
books and first editions as the most educated 
Westerner settled in New York, he positively 
knew what books he had, and had ‘‘read at'' 
all of them. It is probable that had he been a 
married man the house he lived in would not 
have been made over to his wife to cheat his 
creditors in the event of financial shipwreck. 

Kitty was still pondering when Lady Arling- 
ford was announced. Briggs advanced to con- 
duct her to a chair. 

“I hope you are not fatigued. Lady Arling- 
ford," said he. “ Have you seen Captain 
Goddard yet 

“Not yet," replied she. “I expected to 
find him here. Ah, Kitty, how happy you 
look ! I'm so glad, dear ! You got my let- 
ter?" 

“Yes, dear, but I don't understand it. 
Have you seen the Baroness Altdorff?" 

“Yes, — this afternoon, by accident; and I 
learnt from her the truth." 

“The truth?" 


Bella-Demonia, 


249 


Yes. She told me who she was and is.” 

^‘Who is she? what is she?” exclaimed 
Dick and Kitty both together. 

You do not know ?” 

‘'No. Who is she.?” 

‘ ‘ The Princess Galitzin. ” 

The words were uttered by a servant who at 
this moment threw open the folding doors and 
admitted Bella-Demonia to the presence .of 
three people whose faces took on an expres- 
sion of unspeakable amazement. 

“Oh, Dick,” whispered Kitty, “who 75 she 
going to turn out to be next ? Are you sure — 
are you sure that she is not Mrs. Richard 
Saville, among other things ?” 

“ I swear she isn't,” replied the no less as- 
tonished Dick, in the same tone. 

“She’ll be somebody else in a minute. I 
know she will.” 

“ Probably.” 

Meanwhile, Mr. Briggs, leading the new- 
comer forward, said to Lady Arlingford, — 

“Lady Arlingford, allow me to present to 
you — ” 

“The princess and I have already met,” 
said her ladyship. 

“Yes,” returned Bella-Demonia, “and Mrs. 
and Mr. Saville I already know. How are 
you ?” 

“I was just going — as we have a few min- 
utes yet — to show Mrs, Saville some pet etch- 


250 


Bella-Demonia. 


ings of mine/' said Mr. Briggs. '‘Would you 
care to see them, princess 

The Princess Galitzin exchanged a glance 
with Lady Arlingford, and then answered, — 

“ Thank you; I would rather see them later, 
if you will allow me, but do not let me de- 
prive Mr. and Mrs. Saville of the pleasure. I 
do not feel quite up to enjoying etchings just 
now. " 

“ Nor I," said Lady Arlingford. 

“Well, then, pursued Mr. Briggs, “if you 
will pardon us for a while — V' 

“ By all means." 

As Kitty left the room, she whispered to 
Lady Arlingford, — 

“Are you sure you are strong enough? 
Shall I stay?" 

“No, no: leave us," was the reply, and the 
next moment the two women were once more 
alone. 

Lady Arlingford rose. “Will you give me 
your hand?" she said. “After hearing your 
story, I don't feel fit to touch you. I must 
have provoked you beyond endurance by my 
ignorance. Can you find it in your heart to 
forgive me?" 

“ If I could wipe out your injuries as easily 
as I can forgive you, — if indeed there is any- 
thing to forgive, — I do so a thousand times 
over. Can you believe that in knowing your 
trouble 1 have forgotten my own ? How I 


Bella-Demonia, 


251 

wish I could help you ! how I should like to 
prove the depth and reality of my sympathy!” 

“You can prove it, and, if you will, you 
can give me all the peace I can hope to gain 
out of this sad life. If I should ask something 
of you that will tax your goodness to his 
depths, would you grant me my prayer? God 
knows I feel I have no right to expect so much* 
from you; but — ” 

“There is no effort I would spare to help 
you. What can I do?” 

“ I implore you to give Jack — Lord Arling- 
ford — one chance to clear himself of some of 
the charges of which you think him guilty. 
That horrible story you told me — there must 
be some explanation. Let him speak in his 
own behalf. I know he will do his utmost to 
repair the injury he did Aubyn, and I am sure 
Aubyn will bury the past, if only for my sake. 
Will you not do the same ? Influential, pro- 
tected as you are in your own country, surely 
you have only to ask for the annulment of your 
marriage with my — my husband, to obtain it. 
Is it not so ?” 

“Yes; but why do you ask?” ^ 

“Because I would help him to atone for his 
past; because if you will give him his freedom 
I will still take him back. Oh, don’t shrink 
from me ! Hear what I have to say before you 
condemn me. Remember, I have a child. It 


252 


Bella-Demonia, 


is my duty to do all in my power to bring her 
father back to her/’ 

'^And you would live with that man, de- 
spising him as you must, because you feel it 
to be your duty ?” 

Even so ! It is the least I can do to atone 
to my little girl for the wrong that has been 
done her. I should be unable to meet her 
eyes, as she asks for her father, if 1 had not 
done all in my power to redeem him. Will 
you do what I ask T 

The Princess Galitzin rose, and, walking to 
the window, appeared to reflect deeply. Then 
she came back and said, — 

For your sake, I promise that so far as my 
own injuries are concerned I will forgive him. 
But his ruin of Aubyn Goddard I cannot — will 
not forgive. Not upon me, but on his confes- 
sion to-night, will depend his liberty. His fate 
is in his own hands.” 

Ah ! how can I thank you ? I am confi- 
dent now.” 

^^At this moment Mr. Briggs entered the 
room. 

‘^Captain Goddard has just arrived,” said 
he. Shall I bring him in here .?” 

One moment,” said Lady Arlingford. I 
— I can bear no more to-night. May I ask 
you, Mr. Briggs, to let me rest awhile in an- 
other room, and then I will go home.” 

Certainly ; it shall be as you wish,” replied 


Bella-Denionia, 


253 


Mr. Briggs. ‘^Come in here. I will see that 
your carriage is ready at any moment.'' 

Her ladyship turned to the princess and ex- 
tended her hand as she said, — 

"‘May I see you once more before I leave 
England } I don't know if I am doing what 
is right, but I hope so." 

Bella- Demonia bent her head, and Lady Ar- 
lingford left the room with Mr. Briggs. 

Left alone, the woman looked after the de- 
parting form, and said, half aloud, — 

“ Who shall say that you are wrong? Not 
I, indeed, — I who have forgotten my revenge 
in my new-born dream." She pressed her 
hands to her head, and turned, just as Aubyn 
Goddard entered the room. 

They faced each other for a few minutes 
without speaking, and then Goddard, advanc- 
ing, took both of her hands in his. 

So I am to thank you for honor as well as 
for life," said he, gravely. 

‘‘That sounds almost like reproach," re- 
plied she. “Have I not done everything I 
could to atone for my share in the disaster I 
so unwittingly brought on you ? Besides, it 
was your delirium and not the prince, that de- 
tained you at Deve-kiui. As far as he was 
concerned, you were free to go as you had 
come. " 

“ He is a wonderful man. Having caught 
me I wonder he did not kill me : I had given 


254 


Bella-Detnoma, 


him trouble enough. Besides, he would have 
been killing two birds with one stone, — or 
rather two men with one bullet. That even- 
ing when I lay unconscious at your feet — yours 
and his — the scene must have been terrible : it 
is never out of my mind.” 

‘‘It is one of the few moments of my life 
that I am ashamed of When the prince re- 
cognized you, and I knew my trick to save 
you had been useless, I gave up all hope, and 
in the desperation of the moment I offered to 
buy your life from him. ‘ Only let him es- 
cape,' said I, ‘ and I promise never to see him 
again, and I — my life — shall be given to you!' ” 

“ My God I And what did he say?” 

“He said, simply, ‘ I have loved you as 
long as I have known you, and you evidently 
do not understand that emotion as I do. I 
hope to show you that I can be at the same 
time a disappointed lover and — a gentleman.' 
That was all that was said till you were on the 
high road to recovery and we laid our plans for 
the trapping of Arlingford. I am not ashamed 
to say that I fell on my knees and asked his 
pardon. It was he who planned and devised 
so that your capture and whereabouts should 
be kept a secret from Skobeleff.” 

“ How generous !” 

“ It was well for yoii that your wound proved 
so dangerous, and that before you could be 
moved peace was proclaimed at San Stefano/' 


Bella-Demon ia. 


255 


Aubyn Goddard raised her hand to his lips 
and said, in a voice that betrayed the depth of 
his emotion, — 

‘‘And you have borne all this forme? I 
wonder why ?'*' 

“Why?’' answered Bella-Demonia, with a 
quick smile and shake of her head. “Be- 
cause you are personally very distasteful to me; 
because, in short, I do not like you ; because 
we are antipathetic to each other ; because you 
have been so nobly treated that you deserve no 
sympathy. Are these reasons enough, Aubyn ?” 

And the man, who was just a man and no 
longer Aubyn Goddard the Hero, clasped to 
his breast the woman, who was just a woman 
and no longer Bella-Demonia the Mystery, as 
she lay in his arms and gave up her soul to the 
ecstasy of his kiss. 

They were very nearly caught by Mr. Briggs, 
who entered the room at the moment, or rather 
just after it. 

“Princess,” said he, “Lord Arlingford is 
here. Shall he come in ?” 

“Wait one moment,” returned she. “My 
plan is much upset by Lady Arlingford’s strange 
determination, but I have promised her my aid. 
If he signs the papers I am willing to avoid 
seeing him, and it will be best that he should 
not know that I have found him. Let me re- 
tire for a while, where I can hear what he has 
to say. This conservatory will do.” 


256 


Bella-Demonia, 


‘^It shall be as you wish/' answered Mr. 
Briggs, showing her to a little conservatory built 
out over the porch of the house, communicat- 
ing by a French window with the apartment. 
As she turned towards it she gave her hand to 
Goddard, who bent and kissed it. 

“Oh!" observed Mr. Briggs to himself. 
“Ah!" 

Then he went to the door and admitted Dick 
Saville, accompanied by Arlingford and Major 
Carteret. The gallant major was evidently very 
nervous : he stood a little apart from his prin- 
cipal and twisted his moustache spasmodically, 
a fit subject for an artist who might desire to 
make a “Study of a Man, ratting." 

Mr. Briggs motioned the four men to be 
seated, and took his place at the writing-table. 
Then, slightly clearing his throat, he ob- 
served, — 

“As we all know for what purpose we are 
here, it will, I think, only be necessary for me 
to read this statutory declaration, which has 
been drawn up in duplicate for the signature of 
his lordship." 

Arlingford signified his attention, and Mr. 
Briggs continued : 

“ The declaration reads as follows : ' I, John 
Vyvian Fane, Viscount Arlingford, do hereby 
solemnly declare that the charges made by me 
against Captain the Honorable Aubyn Goddard 
were false ; that I made the said charges know- 


Bella-Demonia, 


257 


ing them to be false, and with a specific pur- 
pose which was accomplished in the failure of 
his mission/ Now, Lord Arlingford, if you 
will affix your signature in the presence of wit- 
nesses, we can terminate this very painful meetr- 
ing." 

Arlingford sprang to his feet. 

‘‘Sign that he cried. “I refuse to sign 
it ! I am willing to say that to the best of my 
belief I made a mistake ; but sign such a mon- 
strous production as that } Certainly not !” 

You know the alternative. Lord Arlingford,'' 
said Dick Saville. 

“I have told you what I will do," retorted 
Arlingford, turning upon him, “and there is no 
power on earth that can forceme to do more. " 

“Perhaps / can persuade Lord Arlingford to 
sign," said a quiet, rich voice behind them, as 
Bella-Demonia stepped into the room. Hear- 
ing the words, Arlingford started violently and 
turned to meet the woman’s stare. 

“Carita Galitzin 1" he exclaimed. “My 
God !" 

“ Hardly that," replied the princess, in mock 
deprecation, “but, unfortunately, your wife.” 

“His wife!" The exclamation broke forth 
simultaneously from the other four. Goddard 
started as if he had been shot, and went quickly 
to the woman's side. 

“What do you mean?” he said, in a husky 
undertone. 


258 


Bella-De^non ia. 


‘‘Wait,” she replied. 

Meanwhile, Arlingford, with a violent effort, 
had recovered his self-control. 

“You will have,” said he, sneeringly, “ some 
difficulty in proving that the very hurried form 
that we went through was a legal marriage, even 
in Russia, and you will doubtless be too sen- 
sible to risk proving yourself to have been my 
mistress.” 

Goddard, with a half-cough of rage, sprang 
at him. but was restrained by Saville and by 
the princess, who stepped between them. 

“Unfortunately,” said she, in a tone of 
withering scorn, “to have been your wife is, 
if possible, the greater disgrace. You over- 
estimate the honor of a marriage with yourself, 
and you underestimate the fact that you are in 
no position to oppose my slightest whim.” 

“ Indeed ? Because — ?” 

“Because on me depends not only your 
ability to obtain the means of subsistence, but 
your liberty, your very life itself, belong to me. 
I have but to hold up my finger and your doom 
is sealed. You will sign that document at 
once. ” 

‘ ‘ Charming !” returned Arlingford ; ‘ ‘ but we 
are in England now, and I am prepared to 
defend any action you may choose to bring. I 
refuse to sign. Do your worst ! I defy you !” 
he concluded, violently. 

“Mr. Briggs,” said the princess, “I saw 


Bella-Dernojiia, 


259 


Prince SchoulofPs carriage below. Will you 
be so good as to call him ? Thanks.'" 

And Mr. Cincinnatus Q. Briggs left the room, 

‘‘In all the years/' resumed the princess, 
coming close to Arlingford, “during which I 
sought for the murderer of my brother, I thought 
that nothing but his death could appease me. 
Now, however, fortunately for you, I have 
found a man whose honor is as pure as God's 
blessed mercy, a man by comparison with 
whom you are too unclean a thing even to kill." 

She turned on her heel and returned to God- 
dard s side as Mr. Briggs re-entered the room, 
accompanied by Prince SchoulofF. 

“Prince, "said Carita Galitzin to the Chief of 
Police, “will you kindly tell Lord Arlingford 
that if necessary we shall not be wanting in 
proofs to substantiate our charges of bigamy, 
nor shall we shrink from the publicity conse- 
quent on taking steps to frustrate his present 
plans ?" 

“The prince will doubtless remember," said 
Arlingford, with a cool assurance that was 
sublime, “that the onus of disproof lies with 
the accused, and that I am in my own country 
and therefore have the best chance of assuming 
the character of accuser. You, as foreigners, 
will have to go through certain formalities be- 
fore being able to institute legal proceedings. 
I shall therefore proceed at once to prove that 
yours is simply an attempt at blackmail." 


26 o 


Bella-Deinonia, 


“I am compelled to admit that Lord Arling- 
ford’s view of the legal position is entirely cor- 
rect, replied Prince Schouloif, quietly. 

Had a thunder-bolt fallen among them, the 
conste nation of his auditors could not have 
been more lively. 

‘‘You agree with him V exclaimed the prin- 
cess. 

“I am so sure of his accuracy, returned the 
prince, calmly, “that 1 have taken the very 
position he so clearly points out to be the best. 
The negotiations pending between our respec- 
tive governments have enabled me to procure a 
warrant for the immediate arrest of John Vyvian 
Fane, Viscount Arlingford, and it will be in 
Petersburg — not in London — that his lordship 
will have to answer the charge.’' 

“What charge?’' 

“Murder. " 

“Murder!” echoed Arlingford, his air of 
cynic assurance suddenly changing to one of 
alarmed concern. “You can scarcely charge 
a man with that of which he is ignorant. You 
can charge him with whatever you please, but 
I learn for the first time that I have killed any 
one. Preposterous I May I know whom I 
murdered ?” 

“You will find all duly stated in this war- 
rant,” answered the prince, handing him a 
paper. “Your long residence in Russia, and, 
above all, your connection with the police, 


Bella-Demonia. 


261 


render you sufficiently conversant with our code 
10 convince you that we are acting within our 
right, and,” added he, significantly, “that we 
seldom act in vain,” 

“Your methods are at least expensive,” 
ejaculated Arlingford, 

“You are well able to judge of that point. 
My officers are below : you will, I presume, 
accompany them without further trouble. — Mr. 
Briggs, will you allow me to write some in- 
structions? Thank you." 

And the prince seated himself at the writing- 
table, whilst Arlingford stared dazedly at the 
warrant that he held in his hands. A servant 
appeared and handed a slip of paper to Mr. 
Briggs, who whispered to the princess. The 
latter left the room, as Dick Saville approached 
Prince Schouloff and remarked, — 

“Prince, this is a desperate accusation, — 
and so unexpected." 

“Desperate diseases," returned the prince, 
“require desperate remedies. I feared that he 
might be unmanageable ; so I took this pre- 
caution. " 

“But shall you be able to prove him guilty?" 

‘ ‘ That is quite unimportant, " was the answer. 
“Lord Arlingford will doubtless be glad to 
sign any document before his trial, rather than 
return to Russia. You understand?" 

“May I ask," said Mr. Briggs, who had 


262 


Bella-Demonia, 


joined them, '^when and where this murder 
was committed V 

‘‘God knows • I don’t/* returned the prince, 
laconically, as he turned once more to his 
writing 

Mr Briggs’s free and enlightened American 
mind was confused. \ 

“ But surely — ” he began. 

“ My dear fellow,” said Dick Saville, taking 
him aside, “ what the deuce is the use of being 
a Russian prince if you can’t prove a man 
guilty of anything you like on an emergency?’^ 

Meanwhile, Aubyn Goddard had approached 
the diplomat. 

“ I am much indebted to you — ” he began. 

“Not at all,” interrupted Schouloff. “I 
was unfortunate enough to be a party — for 
reasons of state — to your trouble; it is but 
right that I should be a party to your vindica- 
tion. I repeat, for reasons of state I was com- 
pelled to act as I did, knowing that I could 
vindicate you at the right moment. That act 
was as repugnant to me in the manner of its 
performance, as to give you my assistance to- 
day is a pleasure.” 

Lord Arlingford had finished the perusal of 
the warrant, and had scribbled a few words in 
his note-book which he gave to Major Carteret 
for delivery to his wife. Now he moved to- 
wards the door. There he turned and faced 
the five men. The Princess Galitzin and Mrs. 


Bella-Deinonia, 


263 


Bradley Dashton entered the room behind and 
unobserved by him. 

‘'You calculated with perfect certainty/' 
said his lordship, with a brave show of defiance, 
“ and I am not fool enough to resist you and 
give you the chance of killing me ‘ in self-de- 
fence.' Fortunately, my wife is in a position 
to institute proceedings, which will be done at 
once. Egad ! you're all very cle-ver, but I ob- 
serve that Captain Goddard's little card-trick 
remains still unexplained. The disappearance 
of that king of trumps was queer, wasn't it ? 
Let me see: I think the suit was clubs." 

“You need not tax your memory," said 
a voice — “ Bella-Demonia’s " — behind him. 
“ The card is here !" She laid it on the table, 
and all bent forward to look at it. “You 
see," pursued the princess, “that this card is 
one bearing on its back the monogram of a 
gambling-club to which Lord Arlingford be- 
longed, which was immediately afterwards 
broken up. The other, — the one held by 
Captain Goddard, — a two of clubs, will be 
forthcoming if required. This card was given 
to Mrs. Dashton to destroy, that night, by 
Lord Arlingford. Fortunately, she did not do 
so. The reason of Captain Goddard's refusal 
to show that two of clubs has been explained; 
so that the signing of this declaration is no 
longer necessary." 

“You will state fully," said Dick Saville to 


264 


Bella-Demonia, 


Mrs. Dashton, who was leaning against the 
writing-table, how and when this card came 
into your possession 

In any terms you choose to dictate,'' she 

said. 

Arlingford had been staggered for the mo- 
ment, but came up to time, game to the last. 

‘‘I congratulate you all," said he, with an 
evil sneer, ‘^on the value of Mrs, Dashton s 
word !" 

You will find that it is to be depended 
on," said Mrs. Dashton, quietly. ‘‘I told you 
this afternoon that — " 

‘‘That I was to do a great many things," 
broke in Arlingford, in his former tone. 
“Among others, that I was to mmy you.” 

“No; I told you that you should marry no 
other." 

“And I you that a man does not marry 
his—" 

“Stop !" cried the woman, her eyes blazing 
with fury. Her glance fell on the revolver 
lying under her hand: quick as thought she 
raised it and fired. Lord Arlingford fell heavily 
to the ground, mortally wounded. 

Amid the general consternation, the Princess 
Galitzin went to Mrs. Dashton’s side. She 
was fainting. 

“Whew! what shall we do now ?" said Dick 
Saville to Prince Schouloff. 

“Mrs. Dashton is one of my witnesses," re- 


Bella-Demonia, 


265 


turned he. ‘‘I will see that she leaves the 
country at once. She will never return.'' 

A door was thrown open, and Lady Arling- 
ford rushed into the room. Seeing her hus- 
band lying on the floor, she flung herself by 
his side. 

“ My God !" she cried, ^^how did this hap- 
pen 

Arlingford, with a supreme effort, raised 
himself, and, making a sign imposing silence 
on the others, addressed his wife: 

I — 1 — the game was up," he said. I — I 

— shot myself. Poor little woman ! you are 
well rid of me." 

He sank into her arms. 

John Vyvian Fane, Viscount Arlingford, was 
dead. 


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